The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-08-27
NAMES MUST
CO ON BALLOTS
VOTE AT HANDS OF PEOPLE
ONLY WAY TO DETERMINE
CHOICE, SAYS HARRIS.


names of Judge j. T. Dickerson, the
republican nominee, Robert l.. Owen,
democratic, John C. Wills, socialist,
must he placed on the regular elec-
ton ballot in November in order
that the entire people of the state
may decide their choice for United
States senator is the contention Of
James A. Harris of Wagner, re-
publican state chairman, who is
here today for the meeting of the
| state committee to decide upon cam
paign plans.
"The Oregon plan for the direct
election of United States senator's
carried at the primary election on
Aug. 6 by a majority OF $4,000 votes
says Chairman Harris. THE men,
bers of the state election board are
even now preparing blanks, which
will be sent to all nominees of both
houses of the legislature, asking
whether or not they will obey in
structions and vote for the United
States senator candidate that re-
ceives the highest vote of the peo-
pie. This is as it should be.
The various political parties or
the state have recently nominated
their candidates for United States
senator They are: Judge j. L.
Dickerson of Edmond, republican;
Robert L. owen of Muskogee, demo-
crat: and John G. Wills of Granite,
socialist If the court holds that
the progressives have a right to go
on the ticket, then j. II. Johnston
of Oklahoma City is that party's
candidate. Mr.. owen defeated for
mer Gov. Haskell for the. democrat
ic nomination by about $4,000 ma
iority. and Judge Dickerson defeat
ed ]. ]. Jones of Sapulpa, Ed Perry
of Coalgate and B. NJ. Parmenter OF
Lawton. Wills was chosen by a
refere ndum vote within the socialist
party and Johnston was named by
the Bull Moose state committee re-
Gently at Oklahoma city
No One Choice of People.
"These men, then, are tut me
nominees o. their respective par
ties. No one + hon IS tSe choice
of the people of the state for Uni
| ted States sere>jr ustil e is so
recommended by majority Of the
voters at the l. lis in Notembef
/ This is the Oregon plan and must
be followed in Oklahoma. 1t will
lie remembered that Senator Cham
barlain and Former Senator Fulton
were the nominees in Oregon for
the senate, of the democratic and
republican parties, respectively. Mr..
Chamberlain received a majority
of the votes at the regular election
in November and was then elected
by the legislature, thought it was
republican body.
This is the only fair method to
be adopted in Oklahoma, and is the
only way in which the people of the
state can decide their choice for
United States senator. In my opin-
ion, the state election board Will
order all the names of senatorial
candidates on the November ballot.
1T is the plan of the state cleo
ton board, too, to print on the bal
lot. after the name of each legis-
lative candidate, whether or not he
is pledged to vote for the peoples
choice for United States senator.
This is also as it should be. If
candidate for the legislature refuses
to declare himself, then it will be
so stated on the ballot, after his
name.
"But the reople's choice for Uni
ted States senator has not yet been
decided. 1t is not Bob Owen, for he
is only the democratic nominee; it
is not Dickerson, for he is only the
republican nominee. The candidate
who gets the most votes at the polls
in November is the peoples choice.
Whoever hn may be. the legislature
under the direct election plan, is
nledged 10 elect"