The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-29
State Chairman DOIIey Has a
Plan.
Would Put s Taft Electors in
Independent Column.
ALSO TWO new 7. R. ELECTORS
Already 2 Taft and s L. r. Men
Nominated.
Stanley Plans to Organize
New Committee.

Chairman ]. n. Dolley. of the Re-
publican state central committee, is
today sending a circular letter to
every county in the state, in which he
outlines a plan which he hopes will
bring harmony and save the Republi-
can state ticket from defeat in No
vember. Dolley plans to leave. the
eight Roosevelt and two Taft electors
in the Republican column and to
place eight Taft and two Roosevelt
candidates in the Independent column.
This plan. Dolley urges, would en-
able the Republican voters of both
factions to vote their sentiments in
November and select ten candidates
for the electoral college, who will rep
resent their personal beliefs. AS Dol
ley proposes that the Taft names
shall go in the Independent column,
his plan did not bring great cheer to
the Regular leaders. Among the Pro-
greSsiveS. it is believed that the new
arrangement will strengthen the state
congressional and local tickets This
is the letter which Dolley issued:
ITO the voters of Kansas:
In view of the contention made by
certain friends of President Taft that
it is the purpose of the Republican
organization in Kansas to prevent
them from having the opportunity to
vote for him for president in the Re
publican column, the following plan,
it seems reasonable to me, has been
offered as a solution of this difficulty
and it seems to be approved by prom
inent Republicans with whom l have
conferred.
Under the Australian ballot law in
the state OF Kansas a party voter may
vote in the circle and at the same time
leave the column of his party and
vote for other candidates by simply
making an TX" at the, right of their
names. This votes for the candidate
so marked by the voter and does not
vote for the candidate opposing him,
even though the voter has marked in
the circle over these candidates.
I believe it was the intention of all
who participated in the discussion
yesterday to regard the Roosevelt
electors as lawfully nominated and
that everyone had the sincere desire
to give all classes of Republicans,
Democrats and Independent voters
the freest chance to cast their votes
intelligently.
Il therefore suggest that Indepead-
ert petitions be circulated for the puv-
poses of placing ten electors in the
Independent column on the Australian
ballot and let them be selected by the
supporters of President Taft and that
two of them be selected by the sup
porters of ex-President Roosevelt.
When this is done all Republican vot-
ers can vote in the circle and then vote
for each elector as they desire, wheth-
er the names of such electors appear in
the Republican column or in the indie
pendent column. That is tC say, a
Taft Republican can vote in the cir
Gle and mark eight names in the In
dependent column. and thereby vote
for ten Taft electors. A Roosevelt Fse-
publican can vote in the circle and /
mark two names in the Independent
column. and thereby vote for ten
Roosevelt electors.
This is very simple and solves the
whole difficulty in a way which ought
to be satisfactory to all Republicans
in Kansas
1T has the distinct advantage of en-
couraging all Republicans to vote in
the circle for the benefit of the state
ticket, which I trust all Republicans
want to see elected
~ n. DOLLEY,
"Cbairmanr'