Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-25
PORTER'S PLAN GOES AWRY
Scheme to Put Fusion Names First on the
Ticket is Interf.red With.
REPUBLICAN LEADERS ISSUE INSTRUCTIONS
That Party Having Received Highest
Vote mt Previous Election Is En-
titled to Precedence on the
OHicial Ballot.


titled to Precedence on the
Oniciol Ballot.
LINCOLN, oct. 24.-(SpecialD-A plan
supposed to have emanated from the popu-
list state headquarters in this city has been
adopted by Secretary Of State Porter, by
which 1t Is hoped to have the ballots for
use the coming election printed in a
way intended TO deceive innocent voters.
inc law provides that the party casting the
highest number of votes for the head OF
the ticket at the last previous gene al
election shall this year have its nominees
appear on the printed ballots Immediately
below the name Of the office for which the
nominees are candidates for. Secretary
Porter's plan Is to have the fusion nom
inees names appear before the republicans
without any legal authority he has attached
10 certificates Of examination sent to the
county clerks sample form of ballot with
the names Of fusion nominees first in order
Secretary Porter said this aftern son that
the form of ballot was placed on the GER
tihcate as guide for the county clerks.
lie held that inasmuch as Poynter the
fusion nominee last year. got more votes
than the head of the republican ticket the
first place in the ticket.
1t doesn't seem to me that II makes
much difference one way or the other, :"
said Secretary Porter, whether the repub-
lican nominee is given first place on the
ticket or not. 1t is Just as easy for a
man to vote for a republican nominee II
his name is placed below the fusion nom
inee's name as 1t would be IL the name
was placed above. / don't see how the bal
lot can be arranged otherwise. 1t would
be impossible to tell how many votes were
cast by the three fusion parties separately
They were all cast for the same man and
Tor this reason l think the fusion nomiuees
are entitled to the first place on the tcke,
this year."
Does the law require you to place a
form of ballot on the certificate sent to the
county clerks?'' was asked.
81 don't think the law is mandatory or
that point" replied Secretary Porter "The
form was simply put on the certificate tc
assist the clerks in making up their bal.
lots"
Laws Meaning is Clear.
The law appears plain on this point. Th,
section which requires the secretary of state
to certify to nominations to the count!
clerks makes no reference as to the form
of ballot and does not even say that th'
secretary of state may send a sample form
to the clerks. 1t simply provides that thu
secretary shall Immediately upon the ex
piration of the time within which certificate
of nomination may be filed with him, Ger
tify to the county clerks of each count,
within which any of the voters may by Law
vote for a candidate or candidates named II
the certificate, the names and description o
such candidates, together with other de
tails mentioned on the certificate of nom
inaton so filed with the secretary OF state.
AS to the arrangement of the ballot tn
law provides that the party polling the high
est number of votes at the last general elec
tion for the head Of the ticket shall hav
the right of it's nominee Immediately belo'
the name of the Office for which such candi
date was nominated, and further, that tn
party polling the second highest number c
votes shall have the second place. and so OF
TcHt Insists on Justice.
The following letter was sent to ever
county clerk in the state this afternoon b
Chairman Tefft of the republican state Ger
tral committee:
LINCOLN, Oct. 24.-Dear. Sir: 1t Is Of tn
highest Importance that the names OF re
IN their proper places upon the sample an
0'eeai section pa'iG6s' 40 chapter XVI, Compile
Statutes, provides that candidates or n
marty polling the highest number or Vot'
at the last general election for the hea
of the state ticket shall be entitled TO II
irst nlace on the ballot.
h'st he general election in 1898 NJ. l.. Ha!
ward. republican, received 81 9S2 votes I,
the office of governor, or 2lZl less tnan u u
combined vote Of the democrauc; pSopuiil POI
and silver republican parties ana the le
islature of 1888, by Schedule a., page i i
laws of 1899, has clearly recognized ~
right of republican candidates to the hr
Mace on the ballot for this year
However notwithstanding our unlnpeac
able right to the first place on the pallc
W f. Porter, populist secretary OF sta,
with apparent intent to mslead ana q
ceive has issued over his ofhclai sea-
certificate containing form or pallot
1bich the names of fusion candidates |
state officers are in direct violation OF Ia
and without any warrant of authority CIV
precedence over the names OF repuphc'
c' You are accordingly urged by all mea
10 take immediate steps FOR the protectl
nf our rights and do not hesltate, u nee
sary, to resort to proper legal process
that purpose. x l., .r,,+ oo
incIose herewith a form In strict co
formity with the statute Which l ASK
70 submit to your county clerk and reque
Min, TO adopt the same substantially IN
nrana ration of the ballot for your couti'
Pynu will confer a favor upon the col