The independent., 1904-01-21
A Test of the Preferential Ballot
The Old Guard of PopuIism-
Words of Encouragement.

each county, any error would be de-
tected at once.
The ballots to be used should be
prepared and printed by the national
committee. They should contain the
printed names of at least seven candi-
dates and space for writing in three
others. Perhaps the easiest way OF
determining whose names should be
printed on the ballot, would be to call
for nominations by rank and file
populists all over the country. These
could be written on postal cards, sOme-
thing after this fashion: Il nominate
as my first choice for president, John
Doe, of Roeville," signing name ana
postoffice address of voter. On given
day the polls" should close and seven
or some other agreed upon number OF
leading candidates selected to have
their names printed on the ballot.
So much for what might be done II
at the st. Louis meeting the national
committees shall decide to nominate
by direct vote. Now to the work at
hand.
Elsewhere in this paper The Inde-
pendent prints sample ballot for
use in testing the Hare system as ap-
piled to direct nominations. The vote
to be taken on this test is in no way
official and it is not to be considered
binding on either the voter or the ma
tlonal committees-it is simply trial
of something which may be used Of
ficially later on, for the purpose OF as
certaining its feasibility and deslra-
bility.
The ballot may be cut from tie pa
per; but, for those who dislike to
mutilate their files of The Indepen-
dent, ballot on plain paper will be
furnished ON application. No vote VIII
be considered, except from an enrolled
member of the Old Guard Of Populism
but application for enrolment may
be sent in with the marked ballot.
In order to save time, The Indepea-
dent has selected the names Of twelve
populists, any one of whom would fill
! the presidential chair with honor to
himself and the country. Space is CIV
en- for writing in one other name II
the voter SO desires.
To mark your ballot. Make a fig
ure ! at the left Of the name cf your
first choice; a figure 2 at the left Of
the name of your second choice; and
| SO on. You have right to express
your preference for as many as you
desire, up Ito thirteen; or you can
mark four or five and leave the re-
mainder blank and unvoted for. You
vote for none except those you mark.
Make plain igures-not crosses or
! check marks.
/ All votes. to be counted, must reach
| The Independent not later than Sat-
urday night, February 13, 1904. The
final result will be announced in the
issue of February 1S.
II any candidate have clear ma
| iority of the No. /, or first choice
votes. he would be the nominee for
president under an official vote. But
where there is no majority, the one
having the lowest number of first
choice votes will be declared out OF
the race. and I'll his ballots redistri-
buted according to the second choice
expressed on each.
This process of eliminating the
low man" goes on until only two are
left-if ~found necessary. Then the
high man. is nominee for president,
and the other is nominee for vice
president~-or, rather, would be under
an official vote. In case of a tie, the
one having more first choice votes Ia
considered ahead.
Send on your votes-~and don't for
get that while we are only playing at
making nominations, we are doing
effective work In enrolling the Old
Guard OF populism. Such an enroll.
ment II a necessity. II We are ever to
rebuild the p0pulist organization 40
that We can practice aA well as preach
majority ruled.