The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-07-20
THE BAKER BALLOT Law.
PROVISIONS OF THE NEW SYSTEM
THAT DEMAND ATTENTION.
some Of the Important Changes Which
It Inuagurates - How Nominations
Nav he Invaiidated- Review Of tho

May he Invaiidated-A Review Of tho
Law.
In the discussions relative 10 the Baker
ballot law, the attention OF the voters has
been principally directed towards the chance
wrought In the method by which the indi-
ydual voter registers his will ut the ballot
box. and the fact that the new law complete
" revolutinnZcs the manner in which the
voters. in their aggregate capacity ~ mem.
bcrs Of political organizations. conduct and
determine the preliminary matters necessary
Tor nited party action. .apppears to have
been. by the general public. ut least. In n
great measure overlooked. The importance
pf these changes is such, that brief review
OF them at this time seems pertinent.
WHAT TursE CHANurs ARE.
An examination Of the law shows that
these innovations relate to the following
matters:
Firyt-Thc method Of certifying nomina-
TONS to the proper officers charged by the
law with determining their validity and, in
turn, certifying them 10 the other officers
whose duty II Is TO prepare and issue the
official ballots to he used at all elections
Sccond-Tho manner Of testing and deter
mining their validity. the somewhat extra
ordinary powers conferred upon those who
are authorized 10 decide all questions aris-
ing, and the apparently irremediablc com
plications which may result from an adverse
decision.
Third-The difficulties which may beset
these officers owing TO the peculiar pro-
visions of the law, in the prompt and
proper preparing Of the lists of candidates
and certifying them to the subordinate
Officials. who must prepare and distribute
,he official ballots.
TIiE POINTS TO M CoHsrpERrp.
In this discussion attention is only called
to those nominations required to be certified
20 the Secretary Of tho Commonwealth by
political organizations recognized by the law
as political parties, the proceedings in the
case of nominations made by nomination
papers for these offices being the same
while in the case of county, municipal, bor-
Dugh and township officers thev are practi-
rnlly the same, the differences being in the
officers Ia whom they are certified and who
shall determine their validity. and in the
number Of days prior to the dav of election
within which they must he filed.
Section of the Baker law reads, in part,
a. follows:
Any convention of delegates. or primary
meeting ofelectors, or caucus ncld under
The rules of II political party or any board
authorized to certify nominations repre-
senting political party, which. at the cleo
lion next preceding, pOlled at least three per
centum Of the largest entire vote for any Of
flee cast in the state, or in the electoral dis
lrict or division thereof. for which such prI-
mary meeting, caucus convention or board
desires to make or certify nominations, may
nominate one candida'c for each office
which is 10 he filled in the State or in said
! district or division, Mt the next ensuing cleo
] iion, by causing certificate Of nomination
10 be drawn up and filed as hereinafter pro.
vidcd
POLITICAL PARTIES ARE Now RECOGNIZED.
The striking feature Of this clause, and
which works a radical change is that, for
practically the first I me in our history, the
election law recognizes political parties.
Heretofore the policy of the State has been
10 recognize the unit, the individual acting
spontaneously through the instrumentnlity
Of the ballot, the theory being being that
majority of these political units, or individ-
nal voters, acting spontaneously have chos-
| en our rulers. OF course, this has been but
the theory, for since the very organization
of our Cove nment the representatives OF
Inc individual voters, or of part Of them,
have selected the candidates and their cleo
lion has been the result, not Of spontaneous,
but concerted action of individual voters
But the election law has heretofore only
recognized the individual.
Now il not only recognizes the party, but
prescribes the Indispensable requisitiOn for
that recognition that it shall have, at the
election next preceding pollcd at least three
per centum of the largest entire vote for any
office cast in the State'-and also lay down
the methods by which the preliminary
steps necessary for concerted action at the
polls shall be taken.
This action also makes another radical
departure from previous policy. IL practi-
ally Incorporates the rules OF the several
political parties into the jurisdiction Of the
State, All nominations made and filed for
place on the official ballot by certificates OF
nomination must be made and certified by
conventions. primary meetings caucuses or
boards "held under the rules OF a political
. .l...H
lation OF these rules, thev may, as will he
shown hereafter, be declared invalid by those
officials having proper cogniZance thereof.
WHAT CERTIFICATES NUT SET FORTH.
These certificates of nomination, and this
year they include Presidential electors. Con
gressmen, State officers, Judges State Sc
nators and Assemblymcn, shall set forth
specifically 'the party or policy which such
candidate represents; the name Of each can
lidate nominated thereon, his profession.
business or occupation, II any, and his
place of residence, with street and number
thereon, If any; and the Office for which
such candidate is nominated" " and shall be
signed by the presiding officer and the Sc
sretary or secretaries of the body making or
certifying the nomination. who shall add
thereto their place of residence, and shall
ne sworn or affirmed to by them before an
officer qualified TO administer oaths, to be
true and correct to the best of their know
ledge and belief. They shall then be filed
with the Secretary Of the Commonwealth at
least So days before the day of election.
These are the specific requirements of the
law as TO the form, certiflcation and filing
1f certificates of nomination, and the i'm
portance Of a strict compliance with every
provision becomes very apparent when, as
further perusal of the statute shows, the
slightest informality or failure to so comply
might result in the nominations being de-
Jared invalid.
HOW OBJECTIONS ARE TO BE MADE.
Objections 10 certificates of nomination,
Of which there are two classes, must be
only made in writing within 30 days after the
last day for their filing with the Secretary
of the Commonwealth The first class are
'objt ctions as to form or apparent conform
ity or non-conformity to law." These must
be considered by the Secretary of the Com
monwealth." /" conformity with the Auditor
General and Attorney General, and shall be
decided finally by majority Of these offi-
GERS" From this it appears that on any
failure TO comply with any requirements of
the law relative TO the form of these certifi-
Gates two of these three officers may declare
the nomination invalid and from this de-