Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1912-07-19
Do Not Be Fooled

who has faculty of seeing thru the
holes in skinner and from whom
little escapes which concerns the pub
| lie in conduct of the state Offices.
His advice on the second choice, espe.
ciaIly on governor, in voting in the
primaries is deemed of sufficient i'm
portance to publish in full:
Voters should not allow themselves
to be deceived by those who are likely
within the next few weeks to warn
them against indicating second choice
at the primary elections to be held
in September on the ground that it
will nullify their first choice. Through
correspondence from st. Paul and in
the editorial columns of newspapers
who wish to thwart the progressive
movement, the word has gone out from
reactionary headquarters here that
the people are to be told that the
thing for them to do is to vote for
their first choice, and their first choice
only. Playing upon an assumed
popular ignorance of the working of
the primary law, the publicity agents
of the brewery combine have been
directed to make it appear a second
choice vote nullifes his first choice.
The purpose of the conspirators is
clear. They seek to prevent the NOM
ination of a progressive candidate
for governor. They assume that what
with Office holders and hangers-on of
various kinds, the governors friends,
aided by the federal machine, will be
able to insure for Mr.. Eberhart a small
plurality of first choice votes. If there
fore. by practical elimination of the
second choice feature of the primary
law, they can prevent full expires.
sion of popular sentiment they figure
that his nomination is foregone con-
clusion. This can only be done, how
ever, by deceiving the people as to the
effect of a second choice vote. There
fore they say that second choice vote
nullifes first choice case. 1t is
physical impossibility to count voters
second choice as against his first choice.
1t simply can't be done. What the
law provides is: if it is found that the
man the voter wants most cannot be
nominated and his name is eliminated
from the contest. then, and in that
case only, the voters second choice
comes into play. He still has say
as to who shall be the nominee. If
he can't get the man he would sooner
have, he still has the right to express
his choice between those left in the
field This is what the law guaran.
tees; and anyone who asserts that it
| is possible under the law for man by
expressing his second choice to nullify
his choice either does not understand
how second choice ballot works out
or is lying about it. I am sorry to
say that the indications are that the
correspondence sent out from this city
which gives publicity to the view that
it is possible under the law for a voter
to vote for and against the same man
at the same time is deliberately pre-
pared v ith the design of deceiviug the
voters and making them believe that
the law is different from what it act
ually is. Having made careful
study of the primary law and fam
iliarized myself with it's provisions. I
have on hesitation in advising every
friend of good government that he
will be much more sure to be repre-
sented as he expresses his second choice
than if he expressed a first choice
only. Indeed. by failing to express a
second choice he runs great risk of
defeating the purpose he had in mind
when he expressed first choice.
I This is especially true so far as the
governor of the state is concerned.