Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-09-04
lis BULL MOOSE
ON THE BALLOT?
FULFILLING SITUATION PRE-
SENTED TO CANVAS
SING BOARD.
FAIL TO GET NOMINATION
Contend That Nominees of Party
Have Not Secured Sufficient
Votes According to Law

The state board of ~canvassers have
completed their labors with the ex-
ception of certifying to the nomina-
tons. They found all parties nomi-
mated in accordance with reports
which have been given heretofore,
but have struck a snag regarding the
nominations on the Progressive
ticket. =.
A Peculiar Situation.
When the footings of the votes of
the Progressive party were made by
the board it was discovered that all
candidates, excepting those for rail.
road commissioner and the legisla-
tire had failed under the law to Sc.
cure nomination, whereupon there
developed a situation which has
caused the question to be put up to
the attorney general. In order to
make the matter clear to the reader
it will be necessary to 60 into a little
detail. 2.
A Cumbersome Ballot.
Up to the time amendment was
made by the last legislature, the law
required that in CIDER for a person
to ecure nomination it must be nec-
essary for him to have 80 per cent
of the number of votes cast at the
previous election for governor, Sec
rotary of state, and attorney general
of his party. Action was brought in
the supreme court by one Hagendorf,
socialist, against the secretary Of
state, claiming that inasmuch as the
percentage was too high 1t caused
the law to be unconstitutional. The
court sustained the claim, and as a
result the last legislature set the per.
cent at 25.
Two years ago the Progressives had
no candidates for attorney general or
secretary of state, hence the vote for
governor must be taken. That vote
was 9,406, making the basis figure
for nomination this year 2,351. The
votes of al candidates this year hung
closely around the 1000 mark-in
fact from $50 to 1,123-which shows
conclusively that the party is hope.
lessly without representation on the
ballot.
The Trouble.Making Provisions.
There are, however, two provisions
which have raised the question OF
making up the ballot. One is that
where a candidate fails to secure
nomination in his party he may oc-
cupy an independent column OF the
ballot by securing a certain number
of names on petition. The other is in
case of two or more candidates, such
as railroad commissioner or for the
legislature, the highest men-be it
two, three or more-shall be declar-
ed nominated and placed in their
party column.
In this case there are three cand1.
dates for railroad commissioner and
three legislative candidates., and the
only ones, who will occupy the Pro-
gressive column. Suppose Mr.. Aaker
presents his petition and asks to be
placed on the ballot, he will be en-
titled to a column by himself. Not.
withstandlng the fact that he is a
progressive candidate, he cannot oc-
cup his column which is almost a
blank, and must be carried in an.
other column which will practically
be blank.
Up to Attorney General.
Another question in this case is
puzzling the board and they have
asked the attorney general to help
them out. 1t is this: In the present
case of only three names being on
the Progressive ticket fer the three
railroad commissioners, raises the
question if they shall be considered
the three highest, and if they shall
be certified to and placed on the bal
lot. Also would it be proper to place
Mr.. Aaker and others who might pre-
SEM petitions, in the Progressive
column. 1t this Extra column has to
be carried the ballot will be not only
cumbersome bat confusing to the
voter who is not familiar with the
situation.
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