The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-07-23
VOTER CAN
CALL FOR
ANY TICKET
ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS
VOTER is NOT BOUND
BY PARTY

IN re0ly to an article in the Mus
kosee Times-Democral which repre-
sented him as ruling that an elector
a. the primary can vote only the
ticket of the party under which he
Las registered. Attorney General
Charles West has made vigorous
denial that such is his position and re-
Nerates an opinion formerly given
out from his Office 10 the effect that
voter can ask for any one ticket
which he desires al the primary. re
eardless of past party affiliations or
lack OF affiliations. although he is OF
course restricted to voting for the
candidates on the one ticket which
lie calls for.
The attorney generals ruling is OF
particular interest just at the present
time because OF the fact that Very
large number of former Republicans
Who are now supporting Theodore
Roosevelt and the new progressive
party have registered as independ
ents. II has been announced in vari-
Gus places over the state that this
would exclude them from voting at
the primary, inasmuch as there is no
independent ticket in the field but
Under the attorney generals con-
struction of the law they may call
for any ticket they want, regardless
ef their registration.
West Differs From Riley
The articles which called forth the
latest opinion from the attorney gen
cTal was published in the Times
Democrat Saturday evening. The
head lines stated that West held
that an elector could vote only the
tkket of that party under which he
was registered. while the body of the
article without quoting him stated
tiat such was the opinion of Ben w.
r ley, secretary OF the state election
lcard, and that Attorney Genera,
West. who was in the city. agreed
with him.
IN letter to the editor of the
] imes-Democrat. General West says:
Il do not know what Mr.. Riley's
opinion may be, bat mine is quite the
contrary OF the position stated. /
rink that when the elector presents |
llmself TO vote, he, irrespective OF |
last party aHiliation, has the right to |
vote any one ticket he may call for"
Another important Opinion
The opinion already given to Repre- /
sentative G. W. Lewis, Sr., OF Tex |
'la along the same line. which Wa |
: ven cons derable publicity at the
ime, is cited in fun for the purpose |
= defining the attorney generals po- |
itlon more clearly and the paper is
equested 10 correct the erroneous
impression given by its former ar
i1le.
Another opinion along the same
inc. and of almost equal importance,
las been given by the attorney gen
raj to County Attorney J. A. Fain,
f Lawton, in which he holds that
reclnct election inspectors are with.
ut authority to require any elector
Q make or sign an affidavit that he
'lll support the nominees Of the par
for whose candidates the elector
nay propose 10 vote at the primary.
An attempt 10 enforce such q re-
uirement says the attorney general
VIII be serious criminal offense
nd should be reported TO me with
al details, as well as TO the county
iorney Of the county in which the
Hense took place
II wish you would endeayor to
arm who are the persons who caus-
g the printing OF the form you sent
le and when and where it was done. /.
q ought NOT 10 allow an outrage Of
iis kind to be perpeuated.