Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-01-24
NARY AN EMBLEM.
Secretary Of State Taylor Writes
to Women Voters.
TELLS THEM HOW TO VOTE.
They Must tell all that they Hold
as a Political Faith in Three
WOrds-the use of Old Party
Emblems is Forbidden and they
cannot Have one of their Own
A Splash of Cold Water.

COLUMBUS, Dec. 90.-The women through
out the state are taking great interest in the
manner in which they shall exercise the right
of franchise in the election of school officers,
conferred upon them at the last session of
the legislature. Secretary of State of State
Taylor, who is also chief election supervisor,
has recently received a number OF letters
from the ladies asking for specific instruc-
tions for the guidance of women in
making nominations for candidates for
members of school boards, and the man
ner of conducting such elections. In re-
sponse to these queries Mr.. Taylor has pre-
pared formal opinion, giving the ladies
full instruction and pointing out to them
how they can cut loose from the old parties,
nominate and vote for their own sex for such
offices. The opinion is as follows:
Your favor of recent date. asking certain
questions in reference to the recent act of
the legislature to secure voice IN school af-
fairs to the women of Ohio on equal terms
with men, has been duly received; and, in
reply to your interrogatories. will say:
II. Under the election laws the emblems
adopted by the several political parties to
designate their candidates cannot be used
by any other persons than electors represent
ing such party. Neither can women adopt
any other emblem to designate their candi-
dates, as the emblems in question are only
authorized to be adopted at state conven-
tion. See section 10 of the ballot law. If
the persons nominated by the women should
happen to be the candidates regularly nom
mated by certain political party entitled
to device, the names of such candidates,
of course, could be printed on the ballot un-
der such device, but not otherwise.
"2. If the women conclude to nominate
candidates distinctively their own, and do
not desire to cooperate with any of the
other parties in the seledtion of candidates
for the offices for which they are entitled to
vote, am of opinion that under the law
they have perfect right to do so. They
must, however, in certifying the candidates
nominated to the board of deputy state su-
peryisors specify as to each the offices for
which ominated, the party or politicalprin-
ciples which she represents expressed in not
more than three words, and the place and
residence with street and number thereon,
if any.
$50 far as the conduct of the election is
concerned it will be much as heretofore.
The precinct officers who preside over the
olaotioy, IF toxuprbiD off will Lao pracida
over the election for members of the school
board, but there must be separate ballot,
box and a separate tally sheet in which may
be entered the names of all persons, whether
women or males, who vote for members of
school board, In making nominations, un-
less the women participate with the other
political parties, the nominations will be re-
quiled to be made by petition. signed in the
aggregate by not less than twenty y-fve elec-
tors, and must be filed with the board of
deputy state supervisors not less than fifteen
days previous to the election. Aside from
the requirements that there shall be sepa-
rate ballot box, a separate ballot and tally
sheet, the method of conducting the election
so far as making nominations. marking the
ballot, etc., are concerned, is practically the
same as heretofore.
II would be glad to furnish such instruct
ions by which they might be guided in each
step from the nominations to the polls if it
we're possible to do so in letter, but there
are so many requirements under the law
that it is ABSOLUTELY out of the question and
can only recommend careful perusal of
the law if they desire to acquaint themselves
with its provisions that they may exer''
the privilege bestowed upon them by the
! legislature in an intelligent manner"
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