Year: 1871




The undersigned present to their
constituents and to the people of the
Commonwealth this statement of facts
in relation to tho Philadelphia Regis
try law, in the hope and with the be.
lief that il will arouse attention to the
palpable violation of the right of a
large number of our fellow citizens TO
a voice in the selection of their elec.
ton officers; to the opportunities for
fraud, corruption and forged returns
il affords; TO the incitemont to vic.
lence and bloodshcd it contains and
to the desperate character OF the men
who perpetuate their own power by
these means despite the wishes and
the ballots of majority of the people
of that city.


The Act of Assembly known as the
Registry law was passed on the 10Th
day of April, 1869. The provisions
thereof applicable to tho rural districts
are essentially different from those APP
plicablc to the city of Philadelphia =
An entirely different system was ere
ated therefor. Under the latter, the
Board of Aldermen or Justices of the
Peace for that city were vested with
power to select three canvassers for
each election district therein, whose
duty was to make out the lists of
voters, and who had power conferred
upon them TO strike from said lists or
add thereto at their pleasure, and such
action was TO be final, and could not
be appealed from. The Board of Al.
dcrmen also appoints the officers to
hold the elections in each election
division, and by the law they were
directed TO appoint the Judge, one In
spector and one Return Inspector from
the political party which polled the
majority of legal votes in the election
division at the next preceding general
election, and one Inspector and one
Return Inspector from the political
party which polled the next highest
number at such election.


1t will be seen that this law for
Philadelphia took from the people OF
each election division therein the right
to select their own election officers,
and vested it in tribunal whose
duties, under the Constitution and
laws, have no relation to that subject.
Under the Registry law for the rural
districts the Assessors elected by the
people make out the canvass lists and
complete the registry, and the people
themselves choose their election OF.
ticers in each election district The
law for Philadelphia is, therefore
directly in conflict upon these two i'm
porlant points, with the law for the
other parts of the State. 1t is, in
this, destructive of vital principle oI
local self government, and tramples
on a right which has come to be re
cognized as a fundamental American
principle. Why were these grea'
powers taken from the peopis vi oacl
division and vested in the Board o.
/ Aldermen The answer is found il
the fact that that Board was partisan
in its character, and could be depended
upon to exercise its authority in th'
interests of a corrupt clique.


The majority Of the Board of Alder
men constitute the Board and tina
majority has power to appoint all o
the election officers, as well those u
which the minority are entitled a
those of the majority, set at the or
ganizalion of that Board in 1869, IL
members by solemn resolution at thu
suggestion of the Court, gave to th,
minority of the Board the right Il
choose the minority of the election
officers. In this they acted justly
and tacilly admitted the injustice o
this grossly partisan law. This ac
of fairness has been rescinded by th
action of the Board, and the Republi
can majority now appoint a majorl
ty Of the canvassers, the Republican
election officers and the Dcmocrati
election officers Under the dictalio
of corrupt and desperate men, thi
power has grown to be most fruitir
source of impurity in the elections q
Philadelphia. Men are appointed u
canvnssers who know no law and re


cognize no system of morals, but tb


success of their party and the affair


ment of their own selfish ends an


those of their designing leaders,
, They without hesitation strike iroi


the registry list the names of voter


who are duly qualified, and add ther'


to the names Of those who bave n
/ shadow Of right to vote.


No legal power erist 10 prevent ne


infamous 0rongs. One member of III


Legislature holds his place to-day b
9 cause the names Of one hundred an
!, forty eight legal voters of his distri,
y we're struck from the Registry witt
y out authority Of law and for purel
4 partisan purposes.


a In the selection OF election Office
. the Board of Aldermen take especi


care to choose astutc and unscrup


ous Republicans who will do the bi
: ding of their party friends, and almo


invariably select iIiterate, weak
. corruptible men as Democratic ele


ton officers. In many cases, they i


deed violate the plain letter of the Ia
'' by appointing Republicans instead
Demucrats tine of the offers of Il