Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1910-06-10

| another candidate lacked Dut one vote
of having a clear majority of first
choice votes.
Speaking of this section of the stat
ute one of the lea ling politicians of the
city today said:
( "There seems to be a great deal of
controversy concerning the ensuing
state primaries as to whether electors
must vote for second choice candidates
or whether it is optional with the
electors.
The statute says: vote for both
the first and second choice in the most
mandatory fashion, but at the same
time does not seem to prescribe any
penalty, such as invaiidation Of the
ballot. for failure to do so. The same
language is used as to commissioners
or justices, but in these instances fail
ure to vote for all the elector is quail
fled to vote for does not invalidate the
ballot except as to the candidate de-
liberately ignored by the elector. In
the primary election, the second choice
provision is made an essential part of
the statute in order that there might
be no failure to make nominations and
thereby requiring the holding of
another primary, or rather. secondary.
The presumption is that it was not in
tended to leave the second choice OPP
tional, since to do so would be to de-
feat the second choice provision alto
gether, as all the candidates and their
partisans would arrange to mass their
strength in an exclusive first choice,
hoping the other faction would pro-
ceed to cast second choice votes for
their man or men, thus being nomi
mated by the combined first and second
choice votes The state of Washington,
after whose primary law the Idaho law
was largely patterned, foresaw that
contingency and provided for forfeit
ture of all ballots that did not contain
first and second choices. Had it not
done SO there would have been no
made in the first primary
and the election must have been held
over again. The same thing could
easily occur in Idaho, where three can
didates for the governorship and other
offices on the majority party ticket are
already in the field. 1t is quite con-
that Governor Brady and |
Chairman O'Neil will run rather c,ose-
y together and that Mr.. Clagstone will
poll fair vote, certainly enough to
hold the balance OF power between the
TWO leaders. 1t is also quite conceiv-
able that the second choice votes of the
,wo main adversaries may be cast
argely for the third man and give him
me nomination, as was done in the
state of Washington. 1t also may be
he part of wisdom not to permit -of a
second choice nomination in that man.
Ter, but preferably to hold a secondary
election if there be no majority choice
n the first. That is as it may be and
n any event is just according to, the
Individual taste. One thing seems GER
ain-the confusion aad conflicting ad-
ices prevailing at this juncture ought
ot to be carried into the election it
elf and any misconceptions as to the !
method ought to be cleared up before
he campaign has proceeded much !
arther and before candidates may
oncive that the determination of one !
r another process is aimed at their
articular chances. Capital News.
ga primary election shall be held on
he last Tuesday in August, 1910, and
iennially thereafter, for the nomina-
ion of candidates required to be nomi-
ated according to the provisions of ,
his act, to be voted for at the succeed
lg general election in November.
Each candidate for office or some y
ualified voter in his behalf. shall file
omination paper in the proper office, {
s herein provided, at least 80 days, +
nd not more than 60 days, prior to the
rimary to be held to nominate candi- 1,
ates for such Office. Provided q
nat this section (section lW shall not f
revert the acceptance by said person
f nomination for the same office +
lade by other legal nomination papers +
uly filed.
"Vote for both first and second
hoice if there are more than twice as C
iany candidates as there are positions