The San Francisco call., 1908-07-22
GOOD GOVERNMENT
TICKET NOT PLACED
Because of Oversight, League
May Have to Petition for
Place on Ballot
Desires to Participate in NOvem-
Der Election for NOnpar-
tisan Judges


Owing to an oversight at the last
election the Good Government league
may lose its place on the official bal
lot in November and may be compelled
to resort once more to the expensive
method of petition in order to take
part in the fall campaign.
Having failed to preserve its entity
as a distinct political party, the league
is not now entitled, on the face of the
law, to a place on the ballot with the
republicans, democrats and other recog-
niZed parties. Whether the courts will
so interpret the election law as to lift
the league out of its predicament re-
mains to be seen.
According to the law, a political par
ty is not entitled to place on the ball
lot unless there is official evidence
that it has ,polled three per cent of the
votes cast at the last previous election.
The Good Government league claims to
have polled more than the required
percentage In the last municipal cam
paign and has filed with the board of
election commissioners the following
request:
THE Good Government league of San
Francisco, having polled more than
$4,000 votes in the municipal election
held November 5, 1907, respectfully re-
quests your honorable board that a col
umn on the official ballot for the cleo
tion to be held November 3, 1908. be
given to the nominees of the Good Gov
ernment league"
NO OFFICIAL EVIDENCE
But, according to Registrar Ze-
mansky, there is no official evidence
in his possession to show that the
Good Government league polled any
votes at all. Semiofficial evidence the
league has, of course, but no more,
says the registrar.
Zemansky points out that when the
state union labor party indorsed the
democratic gubernatorial ticket it eX-
cepted one office, that of treasurer, for
which it placed a candidate of its own
in nomination, thus preserving it's
identity, as required by law. The de-
mand OF the union labor party of the
state, through it's central committee,
for a place on the ballot. is based on
the vote of Frank E. Haskell, it's nomi-
nee for treasurer. The legal provision
in this regard is the same for a munci-
pal as for state election. 1t was
overlooked when the Good Government
league indorsed the entire democratic
ticket at the last election.
When Hugh NJ. Burke, secretary of
the Good Government league, presented
the request for a place on the ballot,
Registrar Zemansky pointed out to him
that the league had not complied with
the law. He then addressed communi-
cations to Frank W. Marvin, president
Of the league, to Isidor Jacobs and
other members asking them to appear
before the board of election commits
sioners next Tuesday in order that the
matter may be thrashed out.
MAY APPLY FOR WRIT
The league may decide, in order to
test the law, to apply for writ of
mandate compelling the election board
to grant its request. Should this be
denied, only one course remains for the
league-to obtain a place on the ballot
this November, as they did last Novem-
Der, by the costly route of petition.
This method Is particularly difficult
because the law provides that no man
who has participated in the primary
election may sign such a petition
Signatures for the league petition, in
the event one is circulated, will have to
come from voters who have failed to
take part in the primary At the same
time, If voter signs the petition be-
fore the primary election, that act
does not disqualify him from voting
at the primary election. It Is likely
therefore, that If a petition becomes
before August IL, the day of the pri-
mary election.
1t is the expressed intention of the
Good Government league to put a nom
partisan judicial ticket in the field in
November and there is no doubt that
the members will fight hard for place
on the ballot.