The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-18
MIXED IN THEIR BALLOTS
New York Democrats Seem to be Sewed Up
in Bad Shape.

IN BAG shape.
New YorH, July 1.-THE provision
| in the new banot law which requires
that on the official ballot in a presi-
Dental year, not only the names of the
electors, but the names of the candi-
dates for president and vice president,
must be placed under the emblem and
the name Of the party may have an i'm
poruant effect on the presidential con-
test in this state, as it appears to make
impossible the execution of the plan, ap-
proved by many Democrats, to have
the Democratic state convention NOM
mate the Mckinley electors chosen by
the Republican state convention. The
Republican column, for instance, must
bear first the emblem, not the party
name, then the names Of MsKinley and
Hobart, followed by the list of electors.
1t will be the first time in the history
Of the state that the names of candi-
dates for president and vice president
have figured on a ballot, and serious
legal complications may result
Since the adjournment Of the Chicago
convention many prominent Democrats
have advocated the plan of putting the
Republican electors on the Democratic
ticket before the state candidates, and
no doubt OF the legality of this course
was expressed, because electors, under
the constitution, are supposed TO be free
agents who may vote for any candidate
that suits them. But this newly dis
covered provision changes the position
of the electors by binding them to the
candidates whose names precede theirs,
and 1t makes it impossible for the Dem
ocratic state convention to choose the
Mckinley electors without putting the
names of Mckinley and Hobart at the
head of their ticket
At the corporation counsel's Office X
was said that II the Democratic state
convention did put Mckinley and Ho-
bart's names on its tickets such action
might be declared Illegal because these
candidates were not nominated by the
Democratic party, and the courts might
hold their names could not be placed
under the Democratic emblem and
party name 1T is all right TO place the
names Of Republican electors in the
Democratic column on the official bal
lot" said one of Mr.. Scotts assistants.
because these electors are supposed TO
be independent aud have the right TO
vote for either Mckinley or Bryan; but
10 place the names OF Mckinley and
Hobart under the star and the Demo-
cratic party name is a different thing
lation OF the ballot law"
Another suggestion frequently heard
since the Chicago convention is that the
Democratic state convention should not
name any electors. II that course were
followed the space for the electors IN
the Democratic column would be left
vacant and Bryan'S followers would
have 10 get him on the ballot by having
him nominated by the Populists, Social
lists, or some other organization which
polled at least 10000 votes al the last
state election or by nominating him by
petition. In the latter case the petition
would have 70 be signed by fifty voters
in each county in the state.
II the gold standard men decide 10
name third national ticket. the Demo-
cratic state convention could name cleo
tors to vote for that ticket, but legal
complications might then arise under
the ballot law. The Bryan managers
could start new state organization.
represent il as the regular state organ
ization OF the party, hold a state CON
vention. name electors and demand tina.
these electore be PLACID in II Democrats
column under the party emblem. The
Bryan men would be very apt 20 adopt
this course II a third ticket were pue lrp
ana il is thought possible that the pres
enI state Democratic organisation
might BE- declared irregular. That is
why Hill and the Tammany politicians
are so reluctant 10 talk OF third ticket
Just what course the gold standard /!
men will adopt has not been decided !
vet AT the Hctea Normandfs. il was
said today that Senator Hill would no, /
be here Til next Saturday. william,
g Whitney is az his Long Island home. I
The conference which has been - nQca I
talked abuot viii probably D. held next l
favorite day for pos..- 1
zeal conferences. L was 81 first II /
tended 70 have a meeting tonorroTg.
out /, is said thas soTzss 0< the leaders /
seat word 70 Senator Hill tina. hey Il
could no; Z, here before the end u the
week