Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 November 1918 — BABCOCK IS NOT AN ISSUE [ARTICLE]

BABCOCK IS NOT AN ISSUE

In the Case “Tried and Verdicted’ By th® Republican. Looie, Clarkey, et al of the Republican, with there usual characteristic attempts to cloud the issue and try to bring F. E.' Babcock into disrepute, pour fourth columns of personal abuse at us through that sheet. But the public is onto their tactics and knows very well that F. E. Babcock’s personal character is not an issue as to whether or not Harry Watson had been a bonafide resident of his new house on Park avenue for thirty days immediately preceding the recnt election, which the legislature of Indiana has made one of the specific requisites to entitle one to cast a ballot in any local or general election, and the courts have time and again said that “resident” meant to live within a prescribed territory, to actually occupy such residence. However, the writer will stake his standing for honesty, morality, and truth and veracity in Rensselaer or Jasper county with that of either of the editors or sub-editors

of the Republican, without any fear of the verdict of an unpacked jury. The question in which the publie is concerned —and this is something that should interest every person in the county, for if our elections are to be debauched by the votes of persons who have no legal right to cast a ballot, w® might just as well have no election —is that of the legal residence of this voter. The legislature, of all states have wisely placed safeguards about our elections that are intended to prevent any person from voting who has not the legal qualifications, and in every one of these states residence is one of the chief specifications. Had this voter complied with the law of Indiana and been a BONAFIDE resident of the third ward of Rensselaer for thirty days immediately preceding the election —or thirty days in the two years preceding the election, even? That is the question. He testified under oath that he had. And yet not a resident of that part of town, several of whom pass by the place where lie said he resided many times every day in the week, and even the next door neighbors had ever become aware that the place was occupied at all.