The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-12
After Determined Caucus DEM
OcratS Switch Vote.
MUST BE ABLE TO READ
No More Ignorant BallOting in
This State.
Reconsideration Came as Sur
prise to Senate.

After the first of June all elections
in Kansas will be under the headless
ballot system, or under the plan known
the Massachusetts, ballot law The
senate this morning. after a rousing
caucus attended by Governor Hodges
and other Democratic leaders reconsid-
cred the losing vote of Tuesday after
noon and with a solid Democratic ma
jority aided by a dozen Republicans
passed the law. The clause prohibiting
the ignorant voter who cannot read
from voting remained in the bill as
agreed upon by the conference commit
tees of the house and senate.
The reconsideration came as a sur
prise. After the stormy stand taken
by such Democrats as Mcmillan, of
Ottawa, Joseph. of Butler, Gray, of
Osborne, King, of Cowley, Milton, of
Wyandotte, and Nighswonger yester-
day it was no. anticipated that COM
plete switch would be recorded with
out the new report from a new con-
ference committee. The caucus at
tended by all. Democrats and warmed
with demands from Democratic lead
ers who warned the wayward members
against wandering from the platform
pledge however, had it's effect. The
entire Democratic vote this morning
was lined up for the Massachusetts
ballot law.
The bill was taken down to the Of
flee of the governor Immediately and
senate leaders predicted his signature
before night.
The Massachusetts ballot measure hiss
gone through a series of uprlslngs IN the
house and senate The original Dill no. d
favored by either house was sent to
conference committee. Here another bat
tie was waged and it was decided flnaiiy
to include the clause disfranch1slng the
voter who could not read. Persons physi-
cally unable to mark their ballots, now
ever may have assistance from the
Judges and clerks. But able-bodied citl-
zens who are not able to read the English
language hereafter cannot vote.
The house yesterday adopted the report
fight with final vote of 65 to 45- Then
the senate-Democrats speaking their own
minds and not dictated to by caucuses or
party platforms-killed the committee re-
port agreeing that, foreigners with their
naturalization papers but unable to read
should be given assistance in the boot s.
Today different story is told. he
Democrats switched back into the admin
istration column and the bill was passed.
,-e vote today follows: Favoring the
bill and disfranchising ignorant voters:
Bowman, Carey, Carney, Davis. PentoI
Gray Kinds, Howe. Huffman, Joseph,
King, Kinkel, Klein, Malone. Mcmillan,
field Paulen, Porter, Price of Greenwood.
Shouse Stavely. Sutton, Trott, Waggener,
Williams, Wilson of Jefferson Wilson OF
Washington. and Wolf.
Against the bill and favoring the vote
of voters unable to read: Logan, Lam
bertson Mahin, Pauley. Price of Clark.
Stillings, and Troutman. The vote was
81 for and against
Senator Mahin of Smith county, In en-
planning his vote, said he was against a
bill denying the vote of Germans, Hol-
landers and Bohemians who were edu-
cateu in their own language as well aa
Americans are in lneirs but who are not
aLe to master the language of the new
country. Price of Clark stated that his
lexplana ton would read in the words oil
Senator Mahin.