The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-03
HE'S A BUSY Man.
Attorney General jackson Is
Head Question Settler.
His Office Force Is Answering
Many Inquiries.
ELECTION PROBLEMS.
Many Long Distance Calls Are
Received.
Even a Druggist Wanted to
Know About Selling Liquor.
LECTION PROBLEMS.

The attorney generals office is maxi
| ing a noise very much like the su-
preme court today, and it is making 1t
| a good deal faster.
The general invitation which was
extended to the people of Kansas to
lay before the attorney general their
doubtful election propositions for set
Element and solution is being ac-
cepted with an seagerness that is al
| most appalling.
Both of the telephones at the office
of the attorney general were in use
nearly all the time, and the in
quiries kept Preston Coleman, Gen.
eral Jacksons assistant busy from
the moment he opened the office for
business at s o'clock a. m.
At noon General Jackson himself
arrived from Eureka with re-enforce-
ments for the legal battery. and the
the rest of the day, and all night to
night, to answer inquiries.
1t is apparent that there are many
doubtful points arising constantly in
the conduct of an election, and the
election judges and clerks evidently
appreciate the opportunity to lay all
their troubles before the attorney
come from all parts of the state, and
from cities, towns and country pre-
cincts with equal frequency.
Several people who called up
wanted the attorney generals office
to pay for the call. One man at some
distant town grew very Indignant
when Informed that he must pay for
his own call.
1--WE would be unable to pay for all
the calls which are coming in," said
Mr.. Coleman to the man.
IT don't care, it was announced that
you would pay for all calls" was the
hot reply v.a- vf4s
eff such an announcement was
made 1t was without authority from
this Office, and this office is the only
agreement" said Mr.. Coleman.
Most of the questions" said Mr..
Coleman at noon today, ARE easy to
answer, and relate to qualifications OF
voters, registration, and such things
which it would be supposed the local
authorities would be fully posted about.
One man sent me to the statutes for
some further light, however. That was
an Usage county man. The discovery
was made this morning that there were
no squares provided for the crosses af-
ter the candidates on the Independent
and Socialist tickets. No one had no.
ticed the error until the tickets were
handed out to the voters. The law re-
quireS that the voter must make q cross
mark in the square after the name of
the candidate. 1 finally told them that
the only way out would be for the voter
to make his cross in the place where the
square ought to be. / think that the
supreme court would hold such a ballot
good, as 1t would clearly indicate the
intention of the voter. and the voter
certainly Is not responsible for the fact
| that the squares were not put on the
| ballot"
A local druggist called up and want
] ed to know whether 1T was lawful for
a drug store to sell liquor today under
the affidavit plan. The primary cleo
| ton law forbids the sale of liquor on
| primary day for any purpose whatever
and the druggist thought 1t might be
the same on election day. However
| the law permits druggists to make
| sales of liquor under the usual statu-
| tory restrictions, on election day.
| A woman called up to inquire wheth-
| er election day Is a legal holiday I'M
der the primary law" 1t isn't.
| A school teacher down in southern
| Kansas who had moved into his pre-
| cinct too late to vote wanted to know
whether there was not some law spec
/ tally allowing those who move for ed
vocational purposes" to be allowed te
| vote wherever they happened to be
There is no such provision of the law
The idea of having all questions aris-
| ing at the voting places both during
| the day and when the ballots are being
counted tonight referred direct to the
attorney generals office for settlement
is a new one. and originated with j
! N. Dolley, chairman of the Republican
state committee. It was his answer te
the Democratic charge that the Re-
publicans were trying to steal the
election Mr.. Dolley caused to be SEM
to each county in the state supply OF
placards to be posted at each voting
place instructing the public that al
: Questions of doubt might be taken uI
with the attorney general by long dis
ance telephone.
Order of Precedence,."We's bouncing