The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-25

majority. while not many of the
polls have been completed ha said
I'VE are justified in the belief that even
If this were not silver year we would
elect our ticket. The fusion majority
would have been 1922 last year taking
an average of the candidates, which
eliminates the feature of personal pop
ularity The fusion majority over
Charles S. Hartman, who was then a
difficult man to beat, would have been
2,46a. That Is conceding everything to
the opposition that ought to be con-
ceded, we believe, and still we are
safe. AS matter of fact the general
indications are for from 5000 to 10000
for Smith and corresponding majorities
for the others on the state ticket Mr.
Smith, when the Populist candidate for
congress against Hartman two years
ago, polied the full party strength, and
there is no reason why he will not do
that. and poll the required number of
other votes this year You will notice
that we are counting confidently on a
good many Republican votes this year"
CLAIMS OF CHAIRMEN.
Chairman c. o. Reed, of the Populist
state central committee, said "The
fusion ticket will come up the west
side of the mountains to the Mullan
tunnel with 5000 majority, and the
az many more, In spite of the Mckin-
ley talk in the eastern wool counties.
rhe indications are that we will carry
Ieer Lodge county without giving any
one more than 500 votes, and the re-
turns we have received from scatter
ing districts are equally assuring"
Chairman L. H. HerShfield, of the
Republican state central committee,
said: All we care to say now Is that
we are making gains right along.
There is even chance that we can
carry the state for the presidential
ticket. The state offices? They are
safe enough"
Mr.. HerShfield has not made anv
figures on the result.
The candidates for governor have
taken the stump. Mr.. Smith opened
at Great Falls Sept 20. and Col Bot
kin at Big Timber Oct. 2. There are
in the field besides them only Col. c.
=. Nolan. the. fusion candidate for at,
tcrney general. United States Senator
Carter will be assigned to the eastern
part of the state, among the sheep
men. while Senator Mantle will prob
ably make some speeches on the West
side. Ex-senator Sanders has gone
east to work for Maj. Mckinley and
talk for him In the eastern states.
There will be final rallies the night be-
fore election at Butte. Helena. and
Great Falls. by the silver Republicans
and, fusionists, and one at some con-
venient point in Eastern Montana by
the other Republicans.
The peculiar position Of the tickets
with reference to the nominee for con-
gress coupled with the new election
laws of Montana, bring about an awk-
ward condition of affairs. The name of
Charles 8. Hartman will appear only in
one column, although there will be
places for the Democrats, Populists and
regular Republican tickets in their
order, the fusion having been accom-
plished by each convention nominating
the full ticket when 1t was agreed upon
There will be the two blank spaces
under the Democratic and Populist
headings.
UNDER A PECULIAR LAW.
The peculiar election law now in vo-
que in Montana, which is being tried
this year for the first time. provides
that to erase a name or to make any
other mark on the ticket except a cross
shall vitiate the entire ballot. It Is fear
ed that perhaps the Democrats and
PopuliSts who desire to vote for Hart
man in recognition of his efforts for
the silver cause, may attempt to write
his name in and then vote the ticket
Of their choice by placing a cross in the
circle at the head of the ticket Some
doubt is expressed as to the legality of
such ballot and Of several other bal
lots that will probably be cast involv-
ing the same provision of the law.
The attorney general of the state has
issued an address to officers of cleo
ten, telling them that the voter who
marks a cross at the head of the ticket
and then places a. cross after the sin
gle name Of q candidate on lsomey other
ticket may have his ballot counted,
and that 1t means that he desires to
vote a straight ticket except as to the
exception he has made by the cross
N the separate column. The Demo-
cratic and Populist state committees
have issued addresses to the voters
saying that the opinion of the attorney
general is not binding, that it is proba-
Lily not tepS BILE, and advising them to
disregard it entirely and, instead of
attempting to vote a straight ticket
ty placing the cross at the ticket, to
make cross after every name.
Two years ago the voters in Montana
had ballot on which the names were
arranged alphabetically, without refer
ence to the party affiliations Of the
candidate. The voters were compelled
to hunt out the men they voted for.
Those who voted last year and are
to vote this year will manage somehow
to have their ballots counted The
1eW system, even at it's worst, cannot
be as inconvenient as the old.