Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-08-24


now, will make formidable candidate
Since the beginning Of our political system
il has been deemed not honorable for mem
hers of one political party to participate in
the primary election of the party with which
be has not affiliated, and the rules of which
be did not expect to abide, and the candi-s
dates Of which be did not expect to support
at the election.
30 far as we know no penalty is incurred
BY members Of one party taking part in
and aiding friends in another party to SEE
cure nomination for public Office even
though he have no idea Of casting his ballot
FOR that friend in the general election, but
from the date Of the division of the Amer
ican electorate into parties, it has not been
deemed an honorable thing to do, and
Athoughtful men rarely are guilty of this
breach Of this phase Of what may be called
\politieal etiquette.
a few days ago prominent Republican
township near Woodbury. said to the
litter that il Democrats kept out of the
primaries in his township, Gaunt delegates
would be elected, while from another town
ship an opposite claim is made for the op-
posing Republican Senatorial candidate.
While we think our Republican friends
have somewhat oyerstated the extent Of
>pemocratic participation in their primaries,
when we refer to the law we find the
gslAture has made ample provision for
his contingency. We quote from section
I257:
Each voter shall request the party
ticket he desires to vote, and therenpon
he shall receive from the board of reg
Sstry and election an official ballot of
I'D political party prepared as afore-
said, ana no other; the voter shall then
retire to the voting booth, and there pre-
Npafe his ballot so as to indicate his
choice for the candidates Of his party to
there nominated, or his choice for
siegates to the political convention of
Dis political party, as the case may be.
by erasing all names thereon other than
those voted for and shall then deposit
said ballot IN the ballot-box of his party
unless challenged, and if challenged
make oath that he is member of the
said political party. that at the last
election for members of the assembly
at which he voted, he voted for a ma
jority of the candidates whose names
were printed upon the party ticket of
the said party, and intends to support
the candidates OF the said party at the
ensuing election; in the case of any
u frk, %ko
state, the portion of the said oath or
affirmation in reference to previous
voting shall be dispensed with; any
voter who shall vote in the ballot-box
Of one political party at any primary
election held under this act shall not be
allowed TO vote in the ballot-box of any
other political party at the next there
after succeeding primary election; the
said board Of registry and election shall
indicate in the registry book she name
Of the political party whose primary
ticket each voter voting at such pri-
mary election voted by writing opp0-
- site the name Of each of such voters.
in column prepared for that purpose
in such registry book, the first letter of
the name Of such political party, as, for
example, writing the letter "D'' for
democratic party, the letter "R = for
republican party, the letter ssP'' for
prohibition party, and in like manner
for other political parties the SAID board
of registry and election at the close of
the primary election, shall canvass ana
count the said ballots of each political
party, and shall prepare, sign and de-
liver to the clerk of the municipality
In which said primary election is held.
a statement OF the results thereof, as in
this act provided; certificate showing
the results OF said statements shall be
prepared and delivered by the munich
pal clerk to the successful candidates at
said election, as determined by this act.
which statement shall HntitIe the per-
son holding the same to be the candi-
date OF bis party at the ensuing general
election, or to attend the ensuing
political convention Of his party al d
delegate, as the case may be. =
That seems sufficiently strong to deter
any man from participation in the primary
election Of the opposite political party, be-
cause If challenged, be shall make oath, y
etc.
Hence ii appears to US that Republicans
have but to enforce the law to avoid par
ticipation Of unfriendly voters in their pri-
maries, and we very much doubt if any
thoughtful voter will present his vote at .
ballot box that all the circumstances Of his
political utilization do not warrant him IN
sustaining. For the unthoughtful voter
. there i The 2pard'of the challenge, and The
g these win make the most
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