Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1912-06-14
Second Choice Clause
Simple if Understood
Provision Of Wisconsin Primary Law is Ex-
planned by Pioneer Press---Illustration
Shows How 1t Works.

of the Methodist church. Uncon-
sciously. perhaps. the delegates to
that conference expressed second
choice. The expression was regist-
cred every time candidate for bishop
decided that his chances were poor
and told his friends to throw the sup
port they had been giving him to some
other candidate in the field. In the
case of the Haycraft bill, the election
officials perform this function and by
elimination arrive at the exact major
ity choice.
Eliminating Spooner then, his ten
votes 60 to Lee. The vote then stands;
Gordon, 80.
Eberhart. 95.
Lee, 55.
Still no candidate has a majority.
Mr.. Lee who is now the lowest is
dropped and his strength pro rated
in accordance with the desires o. the
voters indicated on the tally sheet.
The tally sheet shows that thirty-fve
of the forty-five voters who picked
Lee as first choice wanted Gordon as
second cnoice. Adding these thirty
five votes to the total first choice votes
of Gordon, the vote stands:
Gordon, 125.
Eberhart, 105.
In this instance Gordon would be
declared the selection of the first pre-
cinct of the First ward.
IN USE ELSEWHERE.
There is nothing mysterious or dan
gerously new in first and second
choice primary. 1t has been in vogue
for many years in Tasmania. state
of the Commonwealth of Australia,
the birth place of our ballot system.
It has been recommended by the Roy
al Commission of England TOR use in
Parliamentary elections where there
were more than two candidates. Cor
porations have used it for years in
modified an9 less rigid form.
The first and seond choice principle
was used in elections in the State of
Washington first in 1907. Idaho
adopted scheme in 1909. North
Dakota has such provision in it's law,
but it differs essentially from the
Wisconsin plan.
The North Dakota plan is being
urged because it is simpler. In
that state if one of three or more
candidates fails to get a majority of
the votes cast, the one receiving the
highest aggregate first and second
, choice is the nominee. Senator Ole
Sageng in speaking in support of the
Wisconsin principle of elimination,
assailed the North Dakota plan as
purely artificial. The greatest criti-
cism urged to this is that it gives as
a great significance to a second choice
: vote as to first and that candidates
in the field could by a gentlemen's
agreement manipulate the primary
almost as effectually as under the pre-
sent system. The process of elimina-
tion under the Wisconsin law, it is
urged. tends to lessen the effect of
such manipulation.
Another argument is urged against
the North Dakota scheme and that
8 is by taking into account the first and
second choice of the highest man, the
second choice votes of the low candi-
;, dates are nullifed. 1t happens in the
illustration used in this article that
. Gordon's and Eberhart's CONT ined
! first and second choice is the same
: whether the North Dakota or the
: Wisconsin principle of first and second
choice is applied The similarity,
however. is a mere coincidence. Com
binations of first and second choice
{ votes can be assembled in such a way
y that the results secured by the appli-
{ cation of the Wisconsin and the North
$ Dakota plan are widely different.
: The Wisconsin plan makes each second
Y choice vote cast factor in determin-
y ing the ultimate result of the prim-
Q ary.
Gollmar BROS. circus was in town