The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-11-25
CASE OF RANK
PARTSIANSHIP
Placing Of Cross Name on
Territorial Ballot
Twice

The Democrats Of the county and
territory win remember the parties
guilty Of the outrage upon the honest
voters Of Oklahoma, whereby Hon.
William NJ. Cross, their candidate was
counted out at the general election
held in the territory on November 4,
1902.
We are not unmindful Of the charge
tbat the under dog in the fight does
all the yelping. but we state as pos
itiye fact that if all the votes of the
voters who voted for Bill Cross No
vember 4 were counted. he would be
declared elected by the canvassing
board, which met at Guthrie yesterday.
The reason for the placing Of Mr..
Crocs' name on the ballot twice. by
the election commissions is self
evident from The way the election re
turns were manipulated. The com
mission. MT being able to agree as to
Mr. Gross political status as a oandi-
date. asked for a legal opinion, and it
was held that Mr.. Cross name must
appear or the official ballot once as a
Democrat and once as Populist
This was clearly an official, and we
might say partisan. error, in the
light Of the facts which surrounded
the Enid convention. That convention
was called as a Democratic conven-
tion. and was heralded and known
over the territory as such. 1t is also
true that the populists of the territory
made their call for the same time and
place, but their convention was not
held as joint convention with the
Democrats, but held in a hall apart
and by themselves. The Democratic
convention was called to order in the
opera house and presided over by
Hon. Robert A. Neff as chairman and
William l.. Alexander as secretary.
After several hours of preliminary
business, It was announced that the
populist convention had adjourned
and were coming over to the Demo
cratic convention, and in the words of
their spokesman, who had been their
chairman. It was announced that they
came as Democrats to help nominate
the next delegate to congress. They
were received with open arms by the
Democratic delegates and given equal
honors, with the privilege of voting
their full strength as accounted for in
their call This was then Demo
cratic convention, a Democratic nom
inee, and Hon. VIM. NJ. Cross was the
man who accepted the honor of be-
coming its candidate and standard
bearer.
When the campaign commenced to
warm up, fears wele entertained that
Oklahoma might be Democratic, and
in order to thwart the rag tail" party
Gas some Republicans would have you
believe 10 be htting synonym for
Democracy, they conceived the
scheme of placing Mr.. Cross name on
the ballot twice. The Republican
campaign managers took this as their
cue, and in consequence a large mum
be- of votes for Mr.. Cross were dis
franchised in that their ballots were
not counted. lt has been held by
Judge Bierer that if the intention OF
the voter can be ascertained, the bal
lot must be counted The stamping
Of Mr.. Cross name twice by the voter
is self evident of his intentions TO vote
for him and it should have neen
counted. But no. that was not the
instructions of the campaign manas
er7 OF the Republican party, as wit
messed by the charge that number
Of ballots in each county were not
c5dnted because M. Cross name was
stamped twice.
This is TOO rank and win rot gain
The Rerlblicaa party slytning The
Official aud campaiga managers who
executed his plo TO rob innocent
voters Of their right TO be heard
through the ballot box. and Mr.. Cross
of a c-ietate Of election, will be re-
menlbe.ei ia TIE ia uIe Democratic
state. ei her unde single or double
STAT, hood and Eil be toli 70 60 away
back and sit down.