South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-11-07
CARSON WINS
ON DEFECTIVE
REGISTRATION

Would the result Of yesterdays
election have been different had the
registration CLERKS. ia charge Of the
municipal registration az the city
hall. done their work property
That between 500 and $50 voters.
practically all Of them democrats.
according 70 the poll books. were
deprived Of their votes hy their
name not appearing on the registra-
ion books, after they had fled
proper applications. is asserted by
the democratic leaders and poll
hook holders.
The registration board consisted
~ City Clerk Harvey T. Rostiser.
Dan Schurtz. republican. and J.
Walter MsInerny. democrat. but the
registration work was largely left %
william Mes. republican, and Har-
~ Engel. supposedly democrat.
chief clerk and deputy. respectively.
While the city chairmen are sup
posed 20 recommend the clerks for
appointment, sSchurtz and ROstiser
stood together against McInerny on
the appointment recommended by
city Chairman George W. Sands,
and Engel. who had been a Rostiser
supporter In the primary, was in
stalled against AIcInerny's protest.
There have been grave suspicious
iu democratic circles during the
campaign that Engel. although
claiming loyalty 10 the party, was
eecretIy among the Rostiser sup
r...-f.-,., h,ol- 90 fr.ro,,, ft,- ,.-r,,r
Iicsu nominee. In effect meaning
chat there had been two republican
clerks both the chief and deputy.
and no democrats, IN charge OF the
registratiOn entries.
Fault Discovered Early.
Z. was discovered early Tuesday
That numerous democrats were pre-
enting themselves ar the polls.
claiming that they had registered,
making proper application ia writ
ing at the city hall during the SEES
sion. April % October, but their
names were not on the registration
list Accordingly they could not
vote. Democratic leaders proceeded
70 investigate 20 see III anything
could be done. but found no way
If going behind the registration
lists So far a. concerned the election,
or Of having the men registered on
their Oaths. so contented themselves
With keeping watch OF the situa
ton.
Whether there vas any culpa bill
ity back OF the failure 10 enter these
names on the registration lists. aft
er applications had been made, OF
whether il was just a happenstance
that they we're all, or practically all
democrats is the problem. Il IS
conceded that 70 may all have been
"a lack OF efficiency, or failure 10
carry ont the requirements Of the
law. permitting democratic registra-
lions TO go astray. but the circum-
stance Is pointed out as peculiar
What Law Requires.
The law provides that upon APP
pHcation for registration. clerk
shall stamp thereon the time OF reg
lstration. etc, and enter the name.
etc. Of the registrant "at once" in
the registration book, and that aft
or entrance therein ne shall again
stamp on such application. certifca-
zion OF the entry. with a serial num-
Der. in regular order. and that the
application shall be kept ON file for
Inspection.
II is asserted that the law was not
followed. but that applications were
allowed 20 pile up for days at times,
and even weeks. before entry was
made. while the clerks loafed. en-
0yed their smokes and asked for
assistants 20 make the entries for
them How many democratic appli-
cations We're accidentally lost dur
ing these waits IS the problem
which may require the services Of
q grand jury 10 unravel
10 is recalled, too, that much
Warming was done from the republi-
can camp. for few days previous
20 closing the sessions of the regis
tration board. about people being