Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-30
Writing In the Name Of Hughes.


TEKAMAH Neb. March 29-To the Editor OF The
Bee; am heartily in accord with the suggestions of
The Bee and many other republican newspapers OF
the state, that the republicans favorng the nomina
ton Of Charles r. Hughes for the presidency write
in his name the blank line specially prepared for
that purpose the ballot but n the plan IL sue
ceed The Bee and all other papers favornE the
must at start campaign of education. instruct
ing the voters how 70 write I'm the name. and what
10 write in.
have Just finished the reading Of your editorial
on this subject in The Bee Of this date. and have
also read the articles from numerous other state
in the issue OF The Bee. under the head
ing How to Get Hughes" and in none of the articles
mentioned does the fun name Of Justice Hughes
appear.
Now. the electors Of the state OF Nebraska can
nearly all read and write. thanks TO educational
system. yet very large per cent Of them
spoilers Of family names. II Charles r. Hughes re-
oeves more votes In Nebraska than any of the per-
sons who are avowed candidates, and whose names
will be printed the ballot. then the republicans
favoring him must be educated how to spell the
Hughes and what his full name is
II an elector writes In the name Charles f. Hughes
and another Charles r. Hues. and another Charles
r. Hews and another-not knowing the full given
name-writes the name Justice Hughes. then three
Of those electors have thrown their votes away and
have failed TO themselves that their votes
will be counted for their preference, Charles e.
Hughes.
Would suggest that you consider the advisablity Of
using a rubber stamp for the purpose of getting the
rght-the rubber stamp and stamp pad 20 be
passed from one voter 10 another as they 20 to
booth to cast their ballot
The expense for the rubber stamps and linking pads
could be easily met-we Hughes men all carrying an
extra dollar In pocket for the purpose OF meet
ing necessary expenses.
Some might question the legality OF stamping the
name on the ballot. when the statute write. bur
1 do not believe that court would 80 consider IT,
This remarkably lucid letter, which comes
from a friend who does not care to have his
name disclosed, is one OF a number received OF
like tenor emphasizing the difficulty of getting
the voters to write in the name Of Charles e.
Hughes correctly on the primary ballot so as to
make II count as their preference for president.
We realize the magnitude Of the task and yet
we have such faith in the intelligence OF the re-
publican voters OF Nebraska that we feel sure
all that is needed is instruction how" and
that the voter. who undertakes to write in the
name, will do 1t right. We are altogether too
prone to dwell upon the ignorant voter" but
the average voter is not ignorant when he knows
what he wants and is told how to get It.
The suggestion OF a rubber stamp paster
has come from more than one source. but we are
disposed to doubt its availability. The Nebraska
election law plainly says write in and it is for
that purpose that the blank line is left under
each office heading, while the use OF rubber
stamp or a paster might be regarded as intended
to circumvent the requirements OF the law with
reference TO filing and printing On the other
hand. while the possibility of mistakes In spell
ing or abbreviating the name, OF omitting the
cross from the square In front, is ever present,
yet 1t should not be serious for the intent OF
the voter should govern the election officers
who count the ballot. The primary law, itself.
expressly declares that II should be "liberally
construed" and we have multitude OF court de-
cisions giving the benefit of the doubt TO the
voter. Vice President Marshall has Just taken
his name off the printed ballot, but II any Ne
braska democrat should write in the name
"Marshall' for vice president. no one would
have any doubt as to whom he referred nor
would there be any excuse for not counting the
ballot as intended. The same applies in our
opinion, to the republican ballot for though the
safe thing is to write It out in full "Charles e.
Hughes" still a ballot marked simply Hughes"
would manifest the intent Just as plainly and
should be counted.
This discussion. however Is helpful for It is
bound to focus attention the real point In
volved. namely. that 1t is up to the individual
republican voter OF Nebraska TO make It known
that he wants Charles e. Hughes for president.
by writing in the name when he marks his bal
lot at the primary.