Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-11-03
How 10 Count EsaslAts.

In view of the fact tina, it is conceded gen
orally thai the result of the election in Ma
lvand depends to a certain extent upon the
number of ballots thrown out, Attorney
General YIN. S. Bryan, Jr., yesterday sent
the following letter 10 Mr.. Starr Gephart,
counsel TO the Supervisors of Elections of
Baltimore city, in response to letter from
Mr. Gtphari:
DeaT Sir: beg 10 state that 1agrcc with
yea in the following conclusions under the
Maryland Election law:
(a) lfa voter should a crossmark (N) OPP
pos;tG the surnalGes of the Presidential and
Vice Presidential candidates eff n party and
also should make a crossmash az opposite
the name of one or more cf the candidates
for Presidential ,lector Of The same party the
vote could tie counted only for the clec,or
opposite whose individual name the ballot
was marked For example, ifa voter should
make a crossmark (N) opposite the surname'
of Parker and Davis, the Democratic noml.
nces for President and Vice President, and
should also make Il crossmalk (N) opposite
the name of Mr.. Frank Brown, one Of The
Democratic candidates for Presidential cleo
tor, the ballot would count FIR Mr.. Frank
Brown, but no other elcctor.
(h) Ifa voter should make n crossmark (N)
opposite the surnGmes of the Presidential
and Vice Presidential candidates of one 20
litical party and should also make Il cross
mark (X) opposite The name of one or more
of the candidates of Presidential electors Of
some other party the whole ballet would be
thrown out.
For cxamplc--if q voter should make Il
crossmark (X) opposite the surnames of
Roosevelt and Fairbanks, the nominees for
President and Vice President of the RrpuO.
lican party, and should also make a cross
mark (X) opposite the name of MIR. Frank
Brown, a Democratic candidate for Prcsi.
dental elcctor, the whole ballot should be
thrown out for all officers, members of Con.
grcss, as well as Presidential electors"
In speaking of the above letter Mr.. Bryan
said: The reasons for the ruling as to the
counting of the ballot marked as indicated
in the letter are
"Tho crossmark (X) opposite the name of
the Democratic Presidential candidates.
standing alone, would mean vote for Gov
ernor Brown and the other seven Democrat
c electors. The only way to give any effect
to the crossmark (X) opposite Governor
Browns individual name would be restrict
the vote for electors to q vote for him alone
BY marking opposite Governor Browns
name the voter clearly Indicated an intention
to treat him differently from the other cleo
tors. The question is not entirely free from
difficulty, but the decision made is the result
of my best Judgment. Of course, the first
ballot would be counted for the Congress-
man.
"ln the second case there is no doubt what
ever that the ballot should be thrown out
entirely. The ciossmark (X) opposite Roose-
welt and Fairbanks names would be vote
for all eight Republican electors. The cross
mark (X) opposite Governor Browns pane
would be vote for him, making a vote for
nine clCCLOI5.
"Scction GO of the Election laws, among
other things, says: If the voter has marked
more names than there are persons to be
elected to al office his ballot shall
not be counted
II think that all these questions, some of
them perpleXing, which arise as 10 the prop
er method Of counting the ballots and as to
the right Of a candidate TO have his name
upon the official ballot, demonstrate the wis
dom of repeating our whole system of voting
and Of going back to the old fashioned meth
DDS.
ut is a good thing 10 prohibit clccionecr.
ing within 100 feet OF the polls; it is most
excellent thing to have the voting from the
original registration books and not from poll
books, as this prevents fraud. 1t is also wise
to have the voting in a room rather than at
a window. But all the rest of the present
election machinery tends to make voting
matter of skin and chance and no., as it
should be, simple and easy method of as.
pertaining the popular will