The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-05-09
Legislature Gives Kenosha
Non-Partisan City EIec-
tons in Future
Old LINES WILL Be WIPED OUT
Non-Partisan Bill First Drawn to AT,
feet Only Milwaukee Is Made Eff
fective to All Cities in State and Is
Passed by Both Houses of Legislature.

The death knell of party politics in
Kenosha and in all cities of Wiseon-
sin, was sounded by the special session
of the legislature on Friday night just
before midnight when the state senate
followed the lead OF the lower house
of the Legislature in the passage of the
non-partisan city election bill and in
the future no parties viii be recogniz-
ed in the election of city officials for
Wisconsin cities. The passage of the
bill came without any warning to the
politicians and in the future the peo-
pie win have chance to nomi-
nate an elect men to office without any
view of their party politics and there
will be nc party designations on the
Icity tickets in the coming years. The
passage of the bill was bitterly oppos-
ed by the Social Democrats, but they
had only hand full of votes when
the final show down came and the bill
will become a law as soon as it is
signed by the governor. Originally
the bill was framed for the purpose
Of Milwaukee only but on Friday the
members of the legislature added new
sections which makes it applicable to
every city in the state. The provisions
of the bill are given as follows:
mo designation Of any party or
principle shall be used for any candi-
date for an elective Office in any city
on nomination papers or ballots at any
general municipal election or pri-
mary therefor.
Papers for the nomination of any
candidate for any office without such
designation filed by voters equal in
number to not less than 2 per cent of
those who voted for the candidate re-
ceiving the highest number of votes
for such Office at the last preceding
municipal election, may be fled at the
time and in the manner provided by
law for the filing Of nomination papers.
No one elector shall sign such paper
for more candidates for each Office
than there are persons to be elected
to such office.
The name of each candidate so plac-
ed in nomination and no others, shall
be printed under a designation of the
office for which he is named on the
official ballot to be used at the prim-
airy election in cities holding primary
elections. The order in which the
names shall be so printed shall be de-
termined by drawing lots by or under
the supervision of the city clerk at
his Office, at u o'clock on the Monday
first succeeding the las day for fling
such papers. The Office at the time
of such drawing shall be open for the
attendance of any elector who may de-
sire to be present.
The ballot shall be so arranged as to
admit of any other person being vot-
ed for by the elector if he so desires
and shall be prepared so that an cleo
tor may designate his first and second
choice as provided in section 1112 of
the statutes, The persons, equal in
number to twice the number of per-
sons to be elected to any office, re-
ceiving the highest vote for such Of
fee, determined under the rules pro-
vided. by sections 11-16 and lily Of
the statutes, shall be the nominees for
such office, and their names and no
others, shall be placed upon the official
ballot at the ensuing municipal cleo
ton in cities holding primary elections.
Except insofar as they are incon-
sistent herewith the laws of the state
governing elections shall apply to such
municipal elections.
This act shall take effect and be
IN force from ana aIGef us passage
and publication.
The adoption of the statewide prop
osition for non-partisan municipal
elections was mainly responsible for
the overwhelming majority. It would
have been passed, even If it had ap-
piled solely to cities of the first class,
however, as the principle Of nor.
partisanship in city affairs was favor
ed by most Of the assemblyloen.
The bill as it passed the assembly
does not include cities where nc pri-
mary election is held, but where can
didates are nominated BE- nomination
papers.
tcARvER" GRADE TRoTTER,