The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-23
AT THE COMING SPECIAL ELEC-
TI0N IN NICOLLET
- COUNTY,
WHO WAS ELIGIBLE BEFORE.
GOV. CL0UGH AND SECRETARY OF
STATE BERG "POCkET'' THE
AMENDMENT
RECENTLY ADOPTED BY VOTERS.
The Secretary Rules That the Old
Law Governs rs to the Coming
Election.

Who are the legal voters in Mime
sofa?
That is the question.
Secretary of State Berg yesterday
ruled, in response to an inquiry from
the auditor of NicolIet county, that
the law of the state has not been
changed, regardless of the fact that
now nearly two months ago the peo-
pie of the state of Minnesota by an
overwhelming vote, voted to limit the
elective franchise to those who had
acquired their second papers.
Just why this condition of affairs
exists the Clio b e has for several
days been trying to ascertain. The
state canvassing board, on whose re-
port naturally depends the legal pass
age of the amendments, finished its
labors the middle of last week. The
law to amend the constitution declares
that the governor shall proclaim them
within ten days after the state can
wasting board makes its return to
him. If there had been any apparent
disposition on the part Of the state
officials, the present muddle in Nicollet
county would have been avoided. AS
it is, there is possibility of long liti-
cation and political unsettIemealt, with
out real cause.
Up to 5 o'clock last night
the return Of the canvasSing
board, which comes through
the office of the secretary of state, a
member of the board, had not been re-
| ceived. The impression was created
beside that it did not make any diff
ference whether the report had been
received or not .,,,a es.-
1t appears that there is to be a
| special election in Nicollet county
within q few days, and 1T is evident
that some one is DESTROYS of having as
many votes cast as can be secured
The old law prevails until the COVER
nor has proclaimed the passage of the
amendment. The general impression
now prevails that the revised elective
franchise law is in force. The real
fact is, however different, and it is
suspected at the capitol that the Mic
ollet county people will not permit the
needed votes to be lost at the coming
election, If they can be found under
the old law
The report has been in the secre-
tary of states Office several days Sat
urday the G o b was informed that
the report was ready, but that, as
there was no hurry, it would be pre-
sented to the governor Monday Mon
days inquiry at the governors office
was met with the response that the re-
port had not been received yet and
at the office of Secretary Berg it was
stated that the report was ready and
would be presented late in the after
noon or Tuesday Yesterday the re-
port was similarly missing, and Meth
er office would give any definite infor-
nation as to the whereabouts of their
report
The law evidently assumes that the
duties of the state canvassing board
shall be continuous, and that the re-
port shall then be presented to the
governor. Nothing is said about limit
of time in which the board may re-
port. although the ten days inhibition
is placed on the governor as to the
passage of constitutional amendments
| What the particular exigency which
inspires the Republican officials to hold
pack the proclamation of the new law
until after the election in Nieollet
county is, is not apparent on it's face