New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-27
Wants Legislative Relief.


Charles II. Duell, chairman OF the
Roosevelt city committee, declared that
Governor Dix ought 10 call on the Legis-
lature at once to pass a Presidential
preferential primary law, and have an
other primary TO chose national delegates
before the Republican National Conven.
tion.
Abraham s. Gilbert chairman Of the
law committee OF the Republican County
Committee, said that the law provided
that whenever the official ballots were
not furnished unofficial ballots, printed
or written in much the manner of the
official ballots, could be used. In some
districts an attempt was made TO write
such ballots, but this was hard TO do
because the ballot was so complicated.
In some of the districts I'm Queens and
The Bronx the ballots did not arrive
until after o o'clock, at which time the
law says the polls must close. Certain
election districts In the Sd Assembly
District in Manhattan did not receive
any ballots at all. In the 10Th As
not arrive until s o'clock; some in the
25th District came shortly after
o'clock. In the 9th District ii was after
$50 o'clock when the ballots arrived.
IL was stated at Republican headquar.
ters that In certain Assembly districts
in the 23d Congress District the names
OF the candidates 10 the national con-
vention were left off the ballot alto
gether.
Roosevelt Movement Blamed.
J. G. Britt, president of the Board Of
Election declared that the trouble was
caused by . legal actions brought by
the Roosevelt city committee and by
reason of the fact that the ballots were
so large that 1t took more time to print
them than usual. He favored a law that
would make changes in the ballot i'm
possible after a certain date.
The statement of Mr.. Gilbert was as
follows:
In every case where II was reported that
the ballots had not been delivered. the
inspectors were advised that unofficial bal
lots might be used. For this purpose the
est polling place, having sample ballots
the names of the same candi-
dates. and to use them I'm the same manner
as official ballots. No person should have
lost his vote by reason of the absence OF
the official ballot
This situation is covered by section 81 Of
the election law, which reads as followS:'
IF for any cause, the official ballots for
any party shall not be provided as required
by law at any polling place unof-
fetal ballots, printed or written made az
nearly as practicable in the form OF the OF
fetal ballot, may be used,
The only section of the law having any
application 10 a case where no vote was
a accepted by the board is section 70. ana
that section appears to limit the power OF
the court TO order new primary IN cass
of fraud to such an extent that II is lmpos-
sible to determine the true results OF such
primaries.
President Britt OF the Board OF Elec-
ton was overwhelmed with complaints
and inauiries as to why the ballots had
not arrived In various places Late last
night he made the following statement;
discovered Monday night that mistake
!, "a hesn made i'm some OF the ballots and
,sa wrong station houses had been put on
.hsr, nut automobiles out all last nighi
ma This morning recalling these ballots