New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-17
WILL NOT AFFECT VOTES.
C. v. c. VAN DEUSEN SPEAKS OF THE NEW
ELECTION LAW
PRINTING THE NAMES OF NOMINEES FOR PREsI-
DENT AND NONRESIDENT ON A TICKET
DOES NOT RESTRICT THE CHOICE
OF ELECTORS.

OF ELECTORS.
The provision OF the Election law requiring the
names OF the nominees for President and Vice
President be printed upon the Official ballot I'M
mediately following the name OF the political party
and preceding the names of the Presidential cleo
tors named by such party has raised a question
TO the constitutonalty OF the provision In tending
restrict the choice OF the electors named such
party ticket TO vote for those men named upon the
ticket for President and VicePresident only.
The provision is an innovation in NewYork State
law and the questions raised by it are receiving
considerable attention in view OF the present COM
pcations resulting from the action of the Chicago
Convention and the probable failure Of the New
York Democratic Convention to indorse either tho
platform or the candidates chosen there.
Tribune reporter yesterday talked with C. v C.
Van Deusen. OF the Brooklyn Board OF Elections.
who collaborated with Senator Raines in drawing
I'D the new election code to the reason for the
introduction OF the provision. Mr.. Van Deusen
said:
II have read with considerable interest the com
ments upon the provision with reference TO print
ing the names OF the Presidential and Nice-Presi-
DENTAL nominees upon the official ballot, and am
somewhat surprised and amused az the premises
adopted by some OF the commentators thereon. Inc
proposition was thoroughly canvassed by senator
Rsines and myself before incorporating u INFO me
Election law There Is question az 70 the rieht
of the Legislature TO define the form OF the ballot
providing the form does violate the right or the
voters guaranteed by the Constitution OF the
United states and Of the State Of Nsw-York
Strictly speaking the question: 20 far as II rel'rS
70 the ac- end intent OF the vO,sr Is on maj por-
lion OF the ballot bearing the names OF candidates
for public Office for which he may vote, win me
exception Of the circle In which he may cas-,
straight The other parts OF the paIl9l' aoone
me Inc preceding the names OF Presidential elect
ors the information and guidance Of me yo'sr
in preparing his ballot Then upon the race Q, ne
stub Of ballot Is printed directions as % ne
manner Of preparing and voting the uiho,'
below the stub Is the device or emblem &c
lected by the political party whose eandiia,es
are printed In that particular column. am
then IN addition tina, Is the name of ne
party making the nomina;ions ne pr'V so,
Presidential nominees simply in the line Of
aiding the voter in determining which :. Het vas
the he desired to vote upon the ba..1t Ein--
Presidential electors named by the Siaie on
veni.on. but every voter knows me nam. OF me
NicePresident and II was because Of that far that
T. was deemed " 50 10 have the names Or me noin-
ne-s printed upon The ballot
Presidential eectors when they meet % cast their
ballots for President and Nice-President 70 ne
men whose names were printed upon no oficial
printed the names Of the electors, l do not TANK
.Eet r. IS question that demands serious consider
he ot for the nominees for President and N!ce-Presl
den; named upon the ballot because the law - So,
c.hc as 70 the manner IN which me fr-s'''h' ana
Vice Pres.1crt shall he CHOSEN
In proof Of me fact ;ha, The provision Is not I'M
constitut onel. | would simply stare tnat he e.-c-
ION laws OF Iowa. Mrnos0,l Mass ,chusetts Ten
Wisconsin Rhode Island. ohio and Illinois contain
almost exact directions a. 70 ne pr-h ns - ne
nominees upon the Official ballot President a.
electors chosen in those States four ears ago
under A similar provision, ana no question arose
as TO he constitutionahy OF the votes cast there