Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-04-15

the old law In many
ways, but might have been made still
better.
The new ballot law applies in all
general and special elections in politi.
cal subdivisions larger than school
district. In order to secure place on
the official ballot at general election
the convention nominating a ticket must
represent a party that cast not less
than FIVE per cent of the total vote
polled in the state at the last proceed
ing general election. This. of course,
will bar the prohibition party from
occupying place on the ballot at the
next elect on. But the law permits a
candidate or set of candidates place
on the ballot when nomination papers
are filed, which are signed by not less
than z, 500 qualified voters, when the
election is a general one. Even then
the prohibition party will have to do
some tall hustling and secure additional
converts, for the party only cast 2,247
votes all told at the last general cleo.
tion. In county elections the same
rule applies, except that FIVE per cent OF
the qualified voters at the proceeding
election must sign the nomination
papers of each candidate and in no
case must the number of ofsigners be less
than twenty-five voters.
nf he "a IS
that the tickets shall be arranged on
the ballot IN the order of the number of
votes received by each party at the last
proceeding election, the party receiv-
ing the highest vote taking first place.
the next highest second place and so on,
the tickets placed on by nomination
papers following in the order of the
number of signers received by each.
This provision will stop the juggling
with the ballot for political effect. as
was done last year in this county. 1t
also means that the democratic ticket
will have first place on the next ballot
printed for Barton county, if the true
letter of the law is lived up to.
No provision is made for the publ
cation of the ballots in the official
papers or other papers and the price
paid for the ballots is limited. In even
numbered years the price paid for
the ballots is not to exceed $40 per
thousand, or fraction thereof, if there
be not more than four tickets on the
ballot, and $3.50 per thousand is al
lowed for each additional ticket. In
odd numbered years IS per thousand
is allowed for printing ballots where
there are not more than four tickets
and 81 extra per thousand for each ad-
ditional ticket. Each precinct is al
lowed seventy. FIVE ballots for every
fifty votes cast at the last proceeding
election. In this provision Barton
county will save half what the ballots
have heretofore cost, when printed BY
political favorites. The expense o
printing ballots and other expenses o
elections are to be apportioned by th'
county commissioners among the town
ships in proportion to the vote cast ii
each at the preceding election.
Judging from the description of th
makeup of the ballot and the sampl
ballot inserted in the law, it is to be
simple affair, devoid of roosters, eagle
and other party devices and free fror
all headings except the name OF tn
party at the head of the ticket. printe
in capitals at least quarter OF an inc
long. At a national election the name
of the party nominees for president an
vice president are allowed on the ticks
in connection with the presidential eles
tors. The little square in which th
voter is to make his ''X" is switche
over to the RIGHT of the name of th
candidate, and public measures are
devoted upon by affixing an "X"
the square at the right of the "Yes" I
.sNo" following the proposition.
Not more than two judges and OF
clerk shall belong to the same polite
party. One judge and one clerk are
be drst selected from the party castir
the highest vote at the proceeding eie
ton, one judge and one clerk IS th
next to be selected from the party cas-
ing the next highest vote, and the re
naming judge is to be selected fro