The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-12
Republicans Plan Amendments
For Election Law.
Probably Facilitate Reports of
Election Returns.
MAKE KANSAS FIRST.
This State Nearly the Last to
Be Reported
A Condition Which Republicans
Would Like to Change.

The next legislature VIII provide some
important reforms in the present election
laws which VIII be intended TO facilitate
the casting and counting Of ballots
The most important amendment now be-
Ing considered viii be one providing that
d voter viii be required TO make but one
mark on ballot when he desires to vote
a straight ticket for either party.
Under the present system IS is necessary
fer a voter to make & cross mark in every
GATE TOT Wn0m ne desires 70 VOTE Inc
new system would fac1lltAts the voting OF
It is proposed that an amendment to the
present law shall provide for the printing
tive tickets. in addition to the squares
which appear opposite the names Of the
Tha law viii then be SO framed that
when a voter desires to cast a straight
the circle When ne desires to vote TOR
different persons on the various tickets,
then it will be the duty to mark IN the
small squares as Is now done Tor each
nominee for whom the voter declares his
preference
Kansas Is the only state which puts Up
with the delays uecessItated IN receiving
returns under the Australian ballot law
WITHOUT amending the law, so counting
can be facilitated
Every state in the union had reports
concerning the result of the election on
the wires Tuesday night During that
time but two counties IN Kansas got into
the Associated Press or special bulIe in
reports. One was Saline, the other, Sedg-
wick And the reports received fr m
Wichita and SaIina were very incomplete
The result in New York was known
definitely by 10 o'clock Tuesday night
The majority IN New York was equal to
half the vote cast IN Kansas, so the
amendments to the law there have proven
IN the headqrarters Of the national Re-
publican committee; in the state head
quarters every body knew that Kansas
would be the last state to be heard from
and It was.
This subject was under discussion by a
number of politicians at the headquarters
To-Day MI Leland called attention TO
the fact that Kansas is always the last
state to be heard from and said
Our election law should be amended
SO that the returns can be more easily
obtained The present system is an un-
necessary tax on the strength Of men
compelled to act as judges and clerks OF
election
Mr. Leland then suggested the adoption
Of the small circle plan
This was approved Immediately by the
following Republicans there present.
" 9 r IobsfeiI J. Il Burton. W w
Smith. Governor Stanley Lieutenant Gov
Secretary George c1arz Trsas1rar
Frank Grimes State Superintendent Nell
Congressman J. NJ Miller. Private Secre-
tary Henry Allen l. s Crurn. Frank l.
Brown, J. L. Bristow. fourth assistant
postmaster general Roy Eicheys assist
ant state treasurer, George E Cole.
James A Trournaan, r. B. WEIGH, and
some Of the Republican lawyers VIII
soon begin the work Of framing a law to
N some Of the eastern states the same
baIot1ng system has been adopted Some
Use the circle system; others count at the
authorize a count Of the vote cast when
ever the uumb Der deposited in the ballot
box reaches 100, this to De continued dur
ing the day, each time 100 votes are rec
0rded- Two sets Of judges have also been
sugg Eted, as well as voting machines.
but the latter are not being seriously con-
S1deEed by any one.