The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-26
City Clerk Burge Explains Pri-
mary Election Rules.
Voter May Vote for One Mayor
and Four Commissioners.
MAY VOTE FOR ONE
Is Legal to Place Cross Behind
Just One Candidate.
Person Not Allowed to Support
Eight at Booths.
..1s AIS the city clerk?.'

'sYes."
81 want to know something about this
commission primary election. Am I al
lowed to vote for eight commissioners
ana two mayors, or eight commission
ers and one mayor, or one commission
er and eight mayors-oh, 1 don't know
what am allowed to vote for-please
tell me-"
And after a long careful, painstak-
ing, polite and most courteous for he
is a candidate for county clerk) ex-
PLANTATION, City Clerk Burge turned
around in his chair with the perspira-
ton running down his face and his
usual color faded down to a heated
death-like shade of pink and glared at
the reporter.
"sit down; let me give you story"
he roared.
And the reporter sat.
Now. before I start out, want to
tell you something. I suppose you
heard my end of that conversation over
the telephone. Well, that is simply
sample Of the work 1 have to do a
thousand times day into that phone.
Men, women and I suppose children,
call me up every few minutes, trying
TO settle family disputes, bets and their
own curiosity on this commission form
election law"
Kept Busy Explaining.
81 am not Blaming them a bit" con-
tinued the city clerk, warming up to
the subject, because it took me a long
time to get polished up On every point
of the law-and might say that there
are still several points that the best OF
attorneys Will not be able to settle until
the legislature makes some changes.
But when the people read an explana-
tion in the State Journal 1 am sure
that it will save me a multitude of
telephone calls and work.
Stopping to argue with the telephone
bell which hao been ringing furiouSly
for a few sect nds and which signi5ed
another questioner about the COM
mission law, Mr.. Burge again resumed
his lecture.
Here is a question that seems to be
bothering every one in the city-how
many candidates may voter vote for
the primary election?' he continued.
EACH VOTER MAY VOTE FOR
FOUR COMMISSIONERS AND ONE
MAYOR. That is the vital section. A
person may vote for four candidates
for commissioner and one for mayor
and no more. Nine people out of ten
call me UP with the impression that
they are allowed to vote for eight can
didates for commissioner and two for
mayor. This IS a mistake.
Then there is another problem that
is bothering some of the politicians as
we'll as the voters do have to vote
for four commissioners and one
mayor?' I have been asked. Then
comes up another vital point that must
be delivered to the public: A VOTER
MAY VOTE FOR ONLY ONE MAN
IF HE LIKES. OR HE MAY VOTE
FOR TWO OR THREE OR ANY
NUMBER TO THE LIMIT OF FOUR
FOR COMMISSIONER AND ONE
FOR MAYOR.
May Vote For One Man.
80 many people have asked if
they would be allowed to vote for just
one candidate. If a man wishes to
vote for one man for mayor and no
-
his ballot will be legal If he wishes
to vote for one commissioner, he has
the same privilege.
And I would like to have the peo-
pie know that if they vote for more
than four commissioners and one may
or their ballots will be thrown out of
the counting and will be declared in
valid. This section of the law is
strict and all voters should pay spec
ial attention to it.
ST understand that there are sever
al people who have a friend running
for office under the commission form
of government and they would vote
for this friend and no one else. This
is legal. 1t is a great thing for the
friend because he receives a vote and
lead over his opponents that no one
else will have. I hear that there will
be a lot of this sort of voting in the
coming primaries.
THE voting at the general election
is done in the same manner. There
will be two candidates for mayor and
eight for commissioner on the ballots
at this time and the voter may vote
for one of the former and four of the
latter. The registration closes March
II. Primary election day is March rs
and the final election on April 5.
Now in Justice to myself and Elec-
ton Commissioner Titus and all those
who are questioned thousand times
q day"
But the city clerk never finished the
sentence. A gong like ring of his tel
ephone caused his body to shake like
a leaf and grabbing the receiver HI
started over again and as the reportel
left the room the same long, careful
painstaking, polite and courteous ans
. wer was being waited over the wires