The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-06
VOTING SCANDAL
PrOgressiveS Violate Election
Law in Ellsworth
County Attorney Appeals to
Attorney General.
THAT HAND PICKED SLATE,
1t Was Posted in an Ellsworth
Election Booth.
Was Taken Down and Now
There's Talk of Arrests.

Names of William Allen Whites
handpicked candidates were today
posted in the polling places and
booths of Ellsworth county in strict
violation of law. This information
came to Attorney General Dawson
shortly before noon today and an irr-
mediate Investigation will be made to
determine whether the Bull Moose
leaders in their zeal have invalidated
the state wide primaries in Kansas.
Not only has the action in Ellsworth
county been in strict violation of the
state election laws, but persons VINO
posted the progressive placards in the
booths and polling places are subject
to criminal prosecution for their lc-
tions.
Shortly before noon today a tele-
gram came from Samuel G. Bartlett,
county attorney of Ellsworth county,
in which he advised the attorney
generals office that the william AL
len White handpicked list of candi-
dates had been posted in the polling
places and election booths in Els
worth county. Bartlett Immediately
ordered the lists torn down and ask
ed Dawson for advice. Bartlet's tel
egram read:
John s. Dawson, Topeka, Kan.
Whites hand-picked list has been
posted in polling places and election
booths. Have ordered them all TAX
en- out, sAM'L G. BARTLETT.
Dawson Immediately answered
Bartletts telegram, advising the Ellis
worth county prosecutor that he had
acted within the law and that the
posting of these lists was illegal. Daw-
son wired:
Samuel c. Bartlett, County Attorney,
Ellsworth. Kansas:
"You did right. The list should not
be posted closer than sixty feet from
the polls, as it is a form of elect1oneer-
ing JOHN s. DAWSON,
Attorney General"
Whether the illegal practice in Ellis
worth county has been made general
in the state, is not known in Topeka.
The matter will be investigated at
once by the state officials in Topeka, |
although Dawson today declined TO
state what action would probably fol- |
low the corrupt practice of the reform |
leaders in the state.
Recently the Kansas progressives |
more than quarter of |
million pieces of campaign literature
in the state. All of these posters and |
circulars bore the names of the Roose- !
velt electoral candidates, the names of
Stubbs, of Capper, Akers. Griffin and |
other socalled progressives- They were |
given to the voters with the assurance /
hat it would aid the individual in cast |
ing an unpreiudiced and untrammeled |
ballot for state and national candi- |
dates.
The Leaders Knew the Law.
Not only was this advertising mat |
ter circulated in the state, but large |
posters were posted in conspicuous |
places near all of the $500 polling |
places. The progressive leaders were !
notified in advance that the law would !
not permit the posting of this matter
closer than so feet from the polling |
places. With this information fresh in |
their minds and with legal authorities
at hand, the progressive leaders, in |
tn cir zeal and anxiety to put Kansas in |
the Bull Moose column, invaded the |
polling places and the booths with |
their campaign literature.
According to legal authorities a poll |
-ician would have much legal right 70 |
stand in the voting places, or in a booth |
and assist voter in making a SELECTION. |
as to place the campaign matter in these |
places. It is strictly a form of eIectionee-- !
ng and the violation of the law in Els |
worth county has caused worry and alarm |
n Topeka lest the same tactics have been |
pursued elsewhere. The Ellsworth sensa- |
lion will Immediately call forth an in
yestigation.
Will Arrests Follow.
Whether or not the situation in Els
which to base contest or whether it /
would in any way invalidate the vote in /
s a close contest, was matter which !
Dawson declined to discuss Mr.. Daw
son is a member of the state contest |
BOARD and in the Ellsworth county situa-
ion will act attorney general: al
hough he may later be calld upon to SIT |
With the contest board if the actions % |
he progressive leaders calls forth COZ
roversy concerning the legality of tie
election
should an investigation reveal that the
Practice in Ellsworth county has been
olIowed in other counts in the state a
Wholesale arrest of progressive leaders in
hest counties will doubtless follow, SucI,
Lction is strictly in violation of election
avs of the state and persons guilty of /
uch practice are subject to arrest and
riminal prosecution.