The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-07-26
Decision still Stands,

Il want to go ON record as saying
ahat my ruling of last week to the ef-
feet that a man must vote at the pri-
maries as he registers and that an in
|dependent who registers as such can
mot vote at the primaries not only still
rstands, but ! have this day advised
election officers in all parts OF the state
of my ruling. want it distinctly un-
derstood that the election o;cers are
to take their instructions from this
.office and not to be guided by what Mr..
West has to say. The object of the ,
lprimary election law was to prevent
republicans fro mnominating candi
dates on the democratic ticket and ,
vice versa. What is the. use of having
I "a primary election law il the republi
keans can agree among themselves to
take part in primary and vote for
weak democratic candidates? 1t would
|Lbe easy for the republicans to nomi-
lfnafe the weakest men on the demo-
cratic ticket and then at the general
election support the republican ticket.
Advices received by me today from
johnson, Alfalfa and other counties
where the socialists are strong are to
the effect that the socialists have de-
cided to nominate weak democratic
ticket and then try to eleet the regu-
lar socialists in November | have
wired the election inspectors that if
a man registers as a. socialist he can
not vote depocratic ticket at the
primary. and this gosssas to independ
ents an dothers Il Mr. West thinks
that he is running the board OF cleo
tions then he shoald remove his Office,
but for the present at least am Civ
ing out the instructions"
RiIey's Ruling to Prevail Here.
Mr.. Montgomery said that unless he
gets some new instructions Mr.. RiIey's
ruling would be the law in Muskogee
county and man win only be allow
ed to vote at the primaries as he reg
listers Saturday evening the Times
Democrat published Mr. Riley5s opin-
ion as to who would be permitted to
vote at the primaries. The opinion as
published is similar to the one rem
dered to the Bartlesyille board Of elec-
tions and was given out by Mr.. Riley
when he was in Muskogee taking part
in the mandamus suit brought by At
torney General West which had as its
object the denying of negroes the right
to register. Mr.. West and Mr. Riley
came to Muskogee together and were
with one another when Mr. Riley gave
the opinion TO Secretary Montgomery
of the Muskogee county election board
Mr. Riley said that the opinion was
the law of the state and by inference
at least it was understood that he
would be supported by Mr.. West.
In a written communication receiv-
ed from Mr.. West today. however, the
attorney general wants it understood
that he does not agree with Secretary
Riley of the state election board In
his communication Mr. West writes as
follows: Il do not know what Mr.
Riley's opinion is, but do know that
mine is quite to the contrary of the
position stated. | think that when an
elector presents himself to vote he,
irrespective of past party affiliations,
has the right to vote any one ticket
that lie may call for" Mr. West con
cludes by saying that there is a. mis-
apprehension among the voters and he
wants this corrected. Accompanying
the letter Is copy of an opinion given
to G. w. Lewis, Sr.. of Texola in which
Mr. West holds that voters are not
bound by past party affiiiations but
are free to participate in any primary
Muskogec election officers do not
dispute with Mr. West over the right
of a man to change his politics and
they say that he can easily indicate
this in cities where he registers. In
the country precincts where no regis
tration is necessary man can vote
any ticket he desires on August 6. but
in the cities he must vote as he regis
tiers unless the courts should decide
otherwise.