Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-08-15
PRIMARY LAW
Is COMPLICATED
The Second Choice Vote for
Congressman at Large
Is a Puzzle
SUIT MAY BE STARTED
Second Choice Provision Will
Make Vote Counting
Difficult and Slow

OLYMPIA, Aus 13.-Will some
candidate for congressman at large
start suit to force a supreme court
ruling on whether or not second
choice is necessary in the coming
primaries? How can primary ballots
be secured for a recount when no
provisions is made for saving them
if one is demanded? When candi-
dates place their declarations in the
mail before the filing time expires
bat the same are not delivered until
too late can the person run for Of
fee? If the candidates for congress
man at large ON the republican and
democratic tickets are required to
baVc 40 per cent. of the vote, does
40 per cent. mean, OF the ballots re
ceived by the candidates or of 40 per
cent. of the votes of those voting
since two are to be elected. each
voter has tWo yotes for congressman
at large aud thUs 10 per cent Of tie
votes received by the candidate .,
means 81 per Ceut OF the votes OF
those voting. These are only a few
of the questions that are already
troubling the state authorities 1t is
settled, however, that the three su-
preme court judges are now elected
be no nominations save at the pri-
maries, and as they are non-partsan
no candidates can be named by con-
Vention. This same applies also TO
superior court judges who have no
opposition.
Suit May Be Started
There is strong possibility that
salt will be started by the congress
sional candidates to get ruling on
that second choice provision. The
law was not drawn to cover any such
situation as is now up, namely the
nomination OF two men for the same
place. Incidentally it might be men-
toned that if voter marks his bal
lot for one first choice and one sec
ond choice, it will be thrown out as
he must vote for two first choice and
two second choice candidates.
f.. T. Banker, Winthrop. democrat.
candidate for senator. first district,
and John Catlin, E.llensburg, demo
crat. card Gate for STATE senator. l@ti
district. vii liot be candidates al
the primary election because tac:.
filings did not reach OiI Hpia Until Il.
ter the time expired, unless the
courts hold the reverse. That they
cannot be candidates is the settled
conviction of all those who have in
vestigated the matter, holding that
the requirement to the effect that
the name be on file with Secretary
OF State Howell, does not mean that
it shall be placed in the mail by that
time.
No Snap for Judges.
In any event the law is much mi:
ed up and the state authorities are
doing much worrying. What is tC
he done is hard to tell, especially
with that second choice provision
One thing is certain and that is that
the election judges are to have ne
easy time this year. The officials
will demand correct count. Fol
.nvery first choice vote there mus
ne Il second choice vote. and if the!
40 nct tally, teen Gil their very fac
All error S ,OMn. lnasmUCt as Wit
~. IN ramts vii probably BE q pop
s.iar uasoime with the voters. these
who have always looked upon being
an election official as an easy way
of earning a few extra dollars, vii
probably find that the money paic
will not compensate them for thell
labor, time and trouble.