|SPEAKING of New York politics," said Judge Hildreth, of Cummings, the
other day, "they have a cheerful way of doing business in Gotham, and at
first it rather surprised me. I went into New York a short time before
election, and a Democratic friend told me I had better go and get
registered so I could 'wote.' I did so, for I hate to lose the divine
right of suffrage, even when I'm a good way from home.
"When election day came around, I went over to the polls in a body,
in the afternoon, but they wouldn't let me vote. I told them I was
registered all right, and that I had a right and must exercise it the
same as any other Democrat in this enlightened land, but they swore at
me and entreated me roughly, and told me to go there myself, and that I
had already voted once and couldn't do it any more. I had always thought
that New York was prone to vigilance and industry in the suffrage
business, and early and often was what I supposed was the grand hailing
sign. It made me mad, therefore, to have the city get so virtuous all at
once that it couldn't even let me vote once.
"I was irritated and extremely ill-natured when I went back to Mr.
McGinnis, and told him. of the great trouble I had had with the judges
of election, and I denounced New York politics with a great deal of
fervor.
"Mr. McGinnis said it was all right.
"'That's aizy enough to me, George. Give me something difficult. Sit
down and rist yoursilf. Don't get excited and talk so loud. I know'd
yez was out lasht night wid the byes and you didn't feel like gettin' up
airly to go to the polls, so I got wan av the byes to go over and wote
your name. That's all roight, come here 'nd have someding.'
"I saw at a glance that New York people were attending to these things
thoroughly and carefully, and since that when I hear that 'a full vote
hasn't been polled in New York city' for some unknown cause, I do not
think it is true. I look upon the statement with great reserve, for I
believe they vote people there who have been dead for centuries, and
people who have not yet arrived in this country, nor even expressed a
desire to come over. I am almost positive that they are still voting
the bones of old A. T. Stewart up in the doubtful wards, and as soon as
Charlie Ross is entitled to vote, he will most assuredly be permitted to
represent.
"Why, there's one ward there where they vote the theatre ghosts and
the spirit of Hamlet's father hasn't missed an election for a hundred
years."