New-York tribune., 1922-10-30
By Ernest ilayyier


leacers of the two parties that this
years state election will be determined
ny the extent of the Democratic ma
serity in New York City. In 1918 Mr..
Smith, then President of the Board Of
Aldermen, had 265,ooo in New York
cits. In 1890 Mr.. Smith, then Gov
erhor, had $4,000.
In estimating Governor Smish's
probable majority In New YORK
City this year 1t Is necessary 10
tako into account the fact that the
election law was amended by tho last
legislature unfavorab,e to the Repub-
iiesns of the city. Why the Repub.
lican local leaders assented to the
ehanges II would better become a Re-
publican than Democrat to explain.
Perhaps some city Republican win.
For more than half 8 century our
election laws have provided that the
boundaries Of ali polling places In New
FORK, as in other cities, should be pub
lished in newspapers In advance Of
election on every registration day.
: This year this provision has been
slped out with the result that thou
SANDS OF men and women, especially
IN the Republican districts, which in
This city are generally the least con-
geSted, had no means of ascertaining
where they could register and were
unable to do so. This accounts. in
part, for the falling off In the regis
ration in nlsny districts.
Tsmmany Controls Boards
Theoretically the registration boards
are equally divided politically. Actu-
ally, in many of the districts ali the
inspectors are Tammany men, whether
appointed as Democrats or Republi-
cans. The new literacy test, making
knowledge OF the Constitution a pre-
reqrisite for new voters, was applied
ny e ection officers mostly controlled
oy Tammany in the districts which
lave the largest naturalized popula.
sion. Thus. in the 4th Assembly,
which has larger proportion of nat
1raiized voters than any other district
n the city, the registration, instead
II being reduced by the literary test,
IS actually larger than last year.
In the districts In which the boards
of inspectors are actually bipartisan
she threat of enforcement Of the liter
acy test had the effect of keeping
many simorous and uncertain votcrs,
men and women, from the polls. Sec
5iop o2 of the amended election law
ls the one which provides that there
shall be in the place of registration
where registration is required to be
personally 100 extracts from the state
Constitution of approximately sc
words each. Such extracts are to be
printed in English on unifrom paste
BOARD slips and these slips kept By
inspectors in box so constructed as
20 conceal the slips from View. The
1ew voter, if required to prove his
Ability TO read and write English, shall
draw out at random one of the slips
and read aloud intelligently ell of the
matter printed upon it, and shall then
grite 'legibly in English ten words
IF the matter on such sl.p," to be Sc
iected by the inspector. Each slip
shall be returned to the box immedt~
asely after each test and the contents
of each box shall be shaken up by an
Inspector before another drawing.
Delay Publication of Vote
1t has long been customary for
boards of inspectors to announce on
election night the result on the "head
of the ticket" and the city news has
transmitted the result as fast as tabu-
Lated 10 the various newspapers. This
early announcement has served as a
check to fraud. The law as changed
1or this years election provides (Sec-
Gion 22l) that in city the chairman
of the board of inspectors shall, upon
the completion of the count Of the
votes, deliver to the police officer on
duty At the polling place statement
signed by the board stating the num-
Der of votes received by each person
voted for. Such officer forthwith shall
convey the statement to the station
aouse of the po ice precinct in which
anrh rla nT 10 $nH "
shall deliver it inviolate to the officer
N command, who shall immediately
transmit by telegraph, telephone Or
messenger the contents Of such state
ment to the officer commanding the
Police Department Of such city.
In the City of New York such COM
manding oficer shall cause all such
returns to be tabulated so that the
anal result may be known as early as
Of iss receipt at the station house such
statement itself shall be filed with such
commanding officer" The Police De-
parsment in New York City is to tab
uiate the returns and furnish all news
papers and newspaper associations with
I, copy of all such tabulations made by
me Police Department, "and no pref
efence shall be given."
section 223 of the election law pro-
wees that upon the completion Of
me canvass" the chairman of the board
ssail make public oral proclamation
Noi the number OF votes cast at that
p"siing place for each candidate.
In other words, there is TO be no
announcement Of the result until the
whole vote is tabulated. which may not
pe Until perhaps after midnight fol-
'wing the close Of the polls.
No Challenge" Lists
Fer many years ths election law
sgsssided for what is known 40 tina
missing voters" list as basis for
ssIaaaiienges. Here is Section 62 Of tho
election law:
- Throughout the year the Board Of
sasestions of the City of New York and
ae police authorities of any other city
siheii ascertain and keep q record OF
re persons who by reason of death.
,emoval. conviction or otherwise have
psi the right to vote from the address
slem which they were registered for
sae last preceding general election.
such police authorities shall use In
saat connection the pamphlet i;sts Of
Ssglstered voters for such election
fhs law has not been changed. hat
any provision for the expense Incurred
was omitted from the law, with tho
sesuit that there will be no genuine
challenge" lists this year, another ;
1otm IN some districts of the farce