Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-05-18
AM ! DEMOCRAT OR Republican,


The following letter received from
reader Of this newspaper raises a per
tinent question. TO avoid embarrass
ment to the writer the name is with
held. 1t Isl:
Editor Times Republican,:
Being reader of your paper fol
quite a number of years, / feel likt
had some right to ask you a few
questions In regard to the new primary
law. so can act legally and under
standingly.
First. Does the law require that to
vote at the primary, to nominate can
didates, that every voter is to put
himself on record rs a republican or a
democrat as the case may be, or can
vote as I would at a general election,
selecting candidates from all parties,
acting as an independent voter?
VIII you please answer in the COL
umns OF the Times-Republican
and oblige d regular subscriber of your
paper?
Roland. May IA, 1908.
Section Of the primary law is very
clear. on this point but for the sake
Of practical example voters should
look upon the statewide primary as
tho all political parties had agreed to
hold their old-time township caucuses
at the center school house on the same
day and hour We will suppose that
two tellers should be stationed at the
door with two clerks behind them. AS
each man filed past the tellers would
ask, (which party's ballot do you
want?" and the voter would say RE-
publican" or Democrat" or prohibit
ton" as his choice might be- II all the
parties were holding their caucuses in
the same room the republicans might
meet on the north side and the demo-
Gratis on the, south side with the prohi-
bitionists down cellar, but under the
provisions Of the primary law each
party has printed ballot containing
the names Of all the candidates for
their party nominations and each voter
after getting from the tellers the ball
lot Of his party, goes into a private
booth and marks cross in front OF
the names OF the men he wishes to vote
FOR.
Thus 1t can be seen that this year
each voter makes his own choice of
party. When he chooses. however, he
IS given Only the ballot Of one party
and can not vote in any other party.
Our above friend, the Independent
voter, will be barred from scattering
his vote at the primary. He must
choose his party and having done so
will not be able to vote in the primary
or candidates OF any other party any
more than he would If he had attended
! straight republican caucus called by
he republican committeeman Of the
ownship As to his vote at the gen.
raj election in the fall he will be
master and IL he is disposed to bolt the
ticket nominated by his party at the
primary, there is no law to prevent him
my more than he has ever been pre-
rented from boiling the ticket NOM
mated at his party's convention.
This year in the primary man votes
n the party of his choice just as he
las always attended the caLcuses OF
he party Of hds choice. He can be
hallenged If judge Of election knows
hat he is trying to take part in the
wrong party, but such challenges VIII
q as rare as they are in the caucuses.
BUT next year he will find his name
ecorded ON the books as Republican"
democrat or "prohibitionist," accord
1g as he elected for himself in the
rimary this year, and he will not be
ermitted to use the primary ballot OF
nv other party without notifying the
ounty auditor in writing. This year
he primary is better than the old eau
us for If a democrat chooses to vote
, the republican party or vice versa,
e loses his chance to vote in his own
arty, whereas he once took part in
he caucuses Of both parties. Next
ear he will be recorded on the books
3 belonging to one party or another,
nd must vote that way.
Section Z of the primary law, reads
8 follows:
Sec. Z. First declaration of party af-
liation-record. At the primary cleo
on to be held in June in the year
ineteen hundred eight, any person
1all be entitled to participate therein
'ho is qualified elector in such pre-
met at the time of said primary cleo !
on, and when the voter seeks to pass
lie guard rail he shall indicate the
arty ballot he desires and one of the
,dges Of the primary election board
hall give him such primary ballot,
lnless challenged, and if so chal-
nged, then only in the event that the
is determined in favor of the
oter,) and such person shall there |
pom be allowed to vote. The voters
election shall constitute his declara-
on of party utilization, and it shall be
lie duty OF the primary election board
record Lis name and check his dec
ration of party utilization on the poll
ooks used by the clerks of the pri-
AIRY election board, and said list {
'operly certified to by said primary