Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-09-15
Form of the Ballot Changed.


William F. Harrity, acting upon the
advice of Attorney General Hensel, has
decided to change the form of the Off
cial ballot to be used in the November
election. The ballot as originally pre-
pared, was in the form of straight party
tickets That is, all of the candidates
of the Republican party were in one
column with the title of the party at the
top of the column. The Democratic
ticket was in another column, and the
Prohibition ticket in third column.
Across the top of the ballot instructions
were printed to the effect that one cross
mark (x) opposite the party name would
stand as vote for all of the candidates
of that party.
That is the way the ballot stood until
General Reeder, of the Republican state
committee, raised the question Of the
legality of its form. He contended that
the law required all candidates to be
grouped as presented in the several GER
tificates of nomination under the designa-
ton of the office with the political ap-
pellation at the head of each group. He
also argued that the cross mark (x)
against the party name at the top of the
ticket did not vote the entire ticket, but
only the candidates i'll that particular
group, which in the case of the present
ballot would be the electors.
After rejecting upon the objections
raised by General Reeder, Attorney
General Hensel and Secretary Harrity
agreed that in his Interpretation was
correct and the form of the ballot will
be changed accordingly. The new form
of the ballot will have the candidates
arranged in groups as presented in the
certificates of nomination, with the party
name at the head of each group. The
first group of candidates on the Republi-
can ticket will be the presidential cleo
tors, the judge of the supreme court and
and the two ongressmen-at-large. One
cross mark (x) opposite the party name
at the head of the group, will vote the
entire group. Under the electors will
come the candidates for county officers
in group by themselves, the state SEN
ate in group, the congressman and the
representatives.
By the new arrangement it will re-
quire cross mark against the party
name at the head of each group to vote
for the candidates in that group. This
will require the voter to give more atten-
tion to his ballot and to do more mark
ing than he would been required to do
under the original form. 1t also pre-
vents man from making single cross
mark at the head of the ticket to vote
the entire ticket. All of the Republican
candidates will still be printed in one
column and the Democrats in another
column.
The Prohibitionists, under the decision
of Secretary Harrity, will not have the
party name printed over their candi
dates. That party having failed to secure
3 per cent. of the highest vote at the
last election, and can only get its candi
dates ON the ballot by nomination
papers, and the law states that such
nominations shall be arranged under
the simple designation of the office in
alphabetical order, according to theil
surnames. The blank spaces will still
left in the last column of the ballot, the
attorney general having decided that il
would not invaldate the ballot to place
them there.