The representative., 1900-09-06
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE:
j. A. Temple, minneapolis
MIDDLE-OF-THE POPS.
That Is the Title the Mid-ROaders
Must Adopt If They Get on the
of

That Is the Title the Mid-Ronders
Must Adopt If They Get on the
Ticket.
Last Friday and Saturday the protest of
the Republicans against the Free Silver Re-
publicans going the ticket and the pro-
test filed by Chairman Edmisten against al
lowing the Grand Island aggregation going
on the ticket or using the name "Populist'
to designate their party, was argued before
the secretary of state. The decision of Mr.
Porter was as follows:
Office of the Secretary of State Lincoln
Neb.. Aug. 18.-ln the case of Samuel T.
Cochran. protestant. against allowing the
name Silver Republican" to be used on the
oMcial ballot. after hearing the argument
of the attorneys and carefully examining
the law bearing on this case namely, Sec
tion 131, chapter 26, session laws of 1899
providing for the formation of new parties
and the adoption Of party names, l am
clearly of the opinion that this section can
not apply to parties already in existence
That the Silver Republican party having
already established it's right to a place on
the ballot and having proven by the rec
ords Of this Office that its candidates for
office have received more than one per cent
OF the total vote cast at the last general
election. that 1t cannot be legally debarred
from having a place upon the official bal
1,
objection OF the aforesaid Samuel T. Coch-
ran and hold that the candidates of the
aforesaid Silver Republican party may
properly have place upon the official bal
lot at the coming election.
w. F. PORTER.
Secretary of State.
Office of Secretary OF State. Lincoln, Neb,
Aug. 1S.-In the case of ]. H. Edmisten
protestant against allowing the names OF
certain candidates nominated at Grand
Island July 20. 1900. by the so-called Mid
dle-of-the- Readers. l find:
, F1rst-That convention consisting of
200 voters did assemble in the city of Grand
Island on the goth day of July, 1900: that
they did then and there nominate candidates
Tor the different state oflces and presiden-
tai electors: that having apparently COM
piled with that provision Of the law which
requires at least 200 delegates in the state
to constitute legal convention, that they
are entitled to have the names of their
nominees placed upon the oficial ballot
Tnat under the head of second objection,
which refers to the party name, and in
which the protestant sets forth that the
word "Populist' would be misleading and
An violation OF law. it already belonging by
application to party now in existence, I
am OF the opinion that the objection is
VOL founded and that the word '.Populist''
without any qualifying word or words to
designate wherein 1t differs from the orig
1nal Populist party. would have tendency
TO deceive many voters. and would be a
direct violation OF section 131. chapter 26.
session laws Of 1899, and, while this is true.
ws also recognize the fact that many of
the participants in the Grand Island cen
vention were what are known as Middle
ct-the-Road Popullsts." and It seems to us
to be fair that they should have such name
applied to them and their candidates as
Will clearly designate their p,,!tica; afaiia-
4inn. And. when the use Of the word Pop
ullst." evan with qualifying word or words
prehSed may deceive voters. that we are
odnstsained to believe that the MANS MID
Road Populists" more nearly applies to
,nnny Of the electors whD participated Ii
IL aforesaid convention than any ether
Aoms wlieh car - chosen. Fcr this rea-
-, believing that every elector shocld have