The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-26
Election Laws of Kansas Sure
to Be Revised.
Democrats Have Promised
Massachusetts, Ballot Law.
TO GET RETURNS PROMPTLY
e. L. Thompson Appointed
Clerk in Treasurer's Office.
Editor Kelley Tells Why jack
SON Was Beaten.

In every portion of the state and in
/ a clamor for a reform in the present
1 election laws. 1t is in view of this
| protest against the present system
| backed by the fact that the Demo-
| Gratis in their party platform have
| promised the Massachusetts ballot law
that Kansas will probably receive
| early relief from the present anti
| quated and time worn custom of mark
/ ing and counting the ballots
| 1t might seem that after the recent
setback which the reforming business
received in Kansas, that there would
| be little welcome for new upIifts in
| Kansas law-making. But it was in the
recent political muddle that Kansas
suddenly began to realize that her cleo
| ton la VS. needed repairs. Now it seems
that she will get some relief.
Two weeks after the election certain
Kansas politicians realized that they
were hit and hit hard. But the returns
were still coming in and no one SEEM
ed to know just where they were hit
or how hard the blow. And now-three
weeks to the day since election-no
one is really certain who has been
elected governor
The Democrats declare the adoption
of their Massachusetts ballot law will
give the proper relief. They are con-
fident it will eliminate the question
of wrongly marked ballots. that a GER
tain element of educational qualifca-
tons will be required in the voting but
that when the votes are cast there
will be no uncertainty as to the person
for whom the voter cast his ballot
Under the Massachusetts ballot law,
the circles and the live stock and pouI-
try displays will be eliminated All the
old guide posts and signal marks on
the ballot will disappear. The voter
must wade through his ballot and
make his fair, honest selections and
rely on his own judgment and intelli-
gence TO mark a legal ballot No more
will the willy politician jubilentIy lead
a score of ignorant voters to the polls
and vote them for certain candidates
by instructing them to make a cross
in the circle under the eagle or the
rooster. And no more will voter find
himself hopelessly at sea because he
loitered to mark in the circle and then
tried to make an intelligent choice
among the candidates in each of a
half dozen columns on the ballot
With the Massachusetts, ballot law in
effect, the names Of the candidates for
governor worIld have appeared in a
single column under a single line head
ing. instead of in the various columns
of the ballot They would have appear
ed thus:
FOR GOvERNER
arthur Cdpper-- Ftepu Dllcdn
George H. Hodges Democrat
George w. KIeihege Socialist
And after the name of each candidate
would appear the customary square
where the voter might make his cross
and continue on down the column of
names. But the candidate for each Of
fee would be grouped, the bald eagles.
the Growing roosters and the braying
donkeys and the cfrcles-haven of rest
for the ignorant vOter-would pass into
oblivion.
With this reform in printing the bal
lot there is added hope that the Demo-
cratic IegfsIa ture-the first truly Demo-
cratic legislature in a quarter century
will enable Kansas to provide herself
with voting machines and determine
the results of her elections before the
terms of the incumbents expire by
statute Such a law would hardly be
to purchase machines-it
would merely enable townships and
cities to buy and use them if they de-
sired. But just such a law was vetoed
by Governor Stubs during the 1911
session
Now. with the legislature unquestion- !
through a coalation with the regular /
to pass a measure over a (
governors veto if necessary, it is prob
a BILE that the Democrats will write some
new election law for Kansas in the 1913 /
session.
Earl Akers, state treasurer elect. has |
appointed z. T. Thompson, of BeIlaire, |
Smith county. to be chief clerk in his |
office Mr. Thompson was in Topeka /
today to see about getting a house He |