The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-09-07

Vlhlm tneV Will Oe printed III party Columns
II certified by a nominating convention and
some go 80 far the other way as to claim
the names will not be printed at all, but
must be written in blank space left for them.
Between the two are shades OF opinion born
OF varying imagination.
The Pittsburg Commercial Gazette" in
order TO set the question at rest had a num-
Der OF lawyers aud politicians who are
thoroughly familiar with the original Baker
act OF 1891 ahd the amendments of 1893,
interviewed
There is no disagreement am ong these They
cay II is efevident from n reading OF the
law that the iusionists. not having pollei
any vote ut the last county election must 10
upon the official ballot by means Of nomi.
nation papers. The Alliance candidates
must go on the ticket in the same manner
At the last Pitts burg City election the Ciu-
zens Industrial Alliance polled a sufficient
number of votes to entitle II to party
column by certificate 1t the next city elec.
hon. but that does not entite 1t TO n party
column on the ballot for the coming state
and county election In November The
Republican, Democratic and Prohibition
parties may have party columns and a cross
mark tX) in the large circle Mt the top Of
these columns will vote every name in the
column. On the other hand the Fusionists
and Alliance men must put a cross mark
(Xl in the square 70 the right of each can
didate to be voted for.
The changes made in the ballot law, which
affect the appearance ofthe ticket, are. first,
that all groups are abolished and n single
mark in the large circle at the top OF party
ticket will vote the straight ticket; second,
that the addresses OF candidates nre omitted
These are the only specific changes that
affect the appearance of the official ballot.
In all other respects IL should be printed
the same as last pear
The change affecting parties Is that which
reduces the vote necessary tO entitle such
party TO nominate by certificate and have
party column, from per cent TO per cent
OF the highest number Of votes cast at the
next preceding election. For nominations
BY nomination papers the number Of sigma.
lures Tor state Office must equal one.half OF
per centum of the highest vote cast for
any can iidale at the last preceding election
and for the offices in any electoral division
OF the state such rs county, city, borough
township, legislative, senatorial. congress.
ional or judicial district the signatures must
number as much ms . per cent OF the high
est entire vote cast in the last preceding
election in .snch division or district. All
nomination papers must specify the party
or policy which the candidate represents,
expressed in not more than three words.
These words must not be the same nor simi-
lar TO those used by any party entitled TO
nominations by certificate. Any objection
toa nomination on account OF the party or
political appellation shall be decided by the
court OF common pleas on hearing.
Section IA OF the smended law governs
the printing OF the ballots. The first para
graph says: THE face Of every ballot which
shall be printed in accordance with the pro-
visions of this act shall contain the names
OF all candidates whose nomination for any
Office specified in the ballot shall have been
duly made, except such as may have died
or withdrawn
This should set at rest the contention that
names OF candidates by nomination papers
may not be printed, The act says on the
face OF the ballot must nc printed the names
Of all candidates whose nominations have
been duly made. The second section pro-
vides that the names Of the candidates OF
each political party. or body OF electors.
shall be arranged under the title of the
offices for which they are nominated in par
allel columns with the party or POLITICAL ap-
pella,ion at the head OF each column. +"
nnd shall be printed in the order
ns nearly as possible Of the votes obtained
in the state at the last state election by the
parties or bodies which obtained the highest
vote for the candidate at the head of its
column at such election"
The law OF 1891 provided that candidates
by nomination papers should be arranged
alphabetically 10 the right of the party
columns. This revision Is new omitted.
The law OF 1891 however, used nearly the
same language in arranging the candidates
by certificates of nomination as is now used
for arranging "all candidates " This amend
ment was proposed by the Ballot Reform
association for the purpose OF grouping
candidates bv nomination papers under
their political appellntions, in separa'e COL
umns the more easily to determine their
status when making nominations for sub
sequent elections. They may not have the
large circle for straight ticket at the head
of their column.
The form OF ballot recentlv sent ont by the
secretary OF the common wealth had three
party columns for the Republican. Demo-
cratic and Prohibition parties and a fourth
column for writing names OF persons not
printed on the ballot This was taken by
some To indicate the construction of the
new law BY the secretary 10 be that only of
the names of political parties entitled to
certificates of nomination should be printed
This wonld be contrary 20 the language of
the first paragraph of section II. which ex.
presslv commands the printing OF the names
Of "all candidates" whose nomination has
been duly made" either by certificate or by
nomination papers.
The language OF the second paragraph dis
tinguishins between political party" and
body of electors and in directing ar
rsngemeut of names las nearly as possible"
according to the vote obtained at the pre-.
ceding election and beginning with the
vote for the candidate at the head of its co.,
umn at such election" Is all construed to
mean that candidates by nomination papers
shall be given senarate columns. In regard
10 tho three parties entitled 10 nominate bs
certificates, they can as easily be arranged
by their vote ns the party for the first col
umn may he designated. So the las nearly
rs possible" provision evidently refers 10
bodies having an indefinite political
standing
II is the opinion of nearly all those con.
versant with the laws of 1891 ana 1898 that
the fusionists and Alliance will he entitled
TO body" columns on the official ballot or
such other arrangement as shall in the
Language or the sixth paragfap.v ,ne four.
tenth section, give 10 each voter a clear
oprortunity TO designate his choice of can.
didates by cross mark (X) in a square of
sufficient size at the right Of the name OF
zach candidate and inside the line incosing
the column" The same paragraph con.
tains TWO provisos. First. that the voter
may designate his choice of an entire group
OF presidential electors by one cross mark
In larger square which shall be placed at
sl.aw wt.Ls s..ls III. A.