Show KEQIdTSATION LISTS The only objection worthy of consideration to the action of the Commissioners in ordering the revision re-vision of the present registration lists for the forthcoming delegate election is the one which suggests 1 that the lists contain the names ot persons who have been declared by the Edmunds law ineligible to vote but who might vote nevertheless their names being on the list The same objection would have applied with equal force had the list been revised last spring and will apply to any list that can lawfully be made At whatever point the Commissioners Commis-sioners come in with their registration registra-tion officers they must of necessity have taken up the list from the last previouR election They have no authority to make a new registration registra-tion any more than the assessors would have had if the Edmunds bill had not passed and things been left as they were In making their visitations vis-itations to residences next spring the Commissioners registrars will have the same power that belonged to the assessors to erase from the lists the names of those who have died removed from the precinct or are otherwise disqualified dis-qualified as voters of the precinct Just how the information of disqualification dis-qualification will be arrived at is a matter for future consideration and determination the question cannot figure at present the revision this l fall being entirely different from that to be made in the spring As stated on Wednesday morning in these columns the election law pro L vides ample means for purging the lists We presume there was never a registration list on which did not eappear I the names of persons not entitled to vote It is not expected that the Utah lists have been or will be much purer than those I where similar election law is in force But if there arises a question ques-tion as to the right of any name on the list there is a way provided for determining the matter very readily read-ily hence the grumblers should make their complaints where they will be effective and not whine when their protests can be of no avail If a man has enough interest inter-est in the election to be exercised by pretended fears of fraudulent voting vot-ing he ought to have the energy to attempt the prevention of fraud especially when the attempt would cost him so little effort As remarked a good many names of persons not qualified to vote under the new law are on the registration lists They have been disqualified since the lists were made hence it it no fault of theirs that they are registered as voters They are guilty of no fraud or deceit Each was able to conscientiously subscribe to the oath required in order to be registered They deny the constitutionality of the act which summarilydisfranchises them without trial or conviction and it is quite generally understood that the validity of the law will be thoroughly tested in the courts tt the same time it is hoped the disfranchised pei ons although their mmes are on the registration lists and stand unchallenged will not attempt at the coming election to exercise the right to vote Some cases for tests may be made but there is too much at stake to run the risk of voiding the election The territory has been without < with-out representation in the Forty seventh Congress and should anything occur to void the November Novem-ber election there could be no delegate dele-gate from Utah in the Fortyeighth Congress A worse misfortune still would be the throwing out of suffi t dent votes by reason of any considerable consid-erable number of disqualified voters exercising the franchise to elect rsa person who would misrepresent the people at Washington The wiser policy it strikes the HERALD will be for only persons to vote whose right to do so cannot be questioned There are enough of these to elect the choice and nominee of the people peo-ple and if this course be followed there can be no defeat at the polls r or at the canvass of votes but if it be not pursued the violation of the disqualifying act unjust and unconstitutional un-constitutional as it may be will very likely be seized upon as a plausible excuse for foisting upon the territory terri-tory a delegate who was not elected |