Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-13

The Republican Organization leaders who
control tho State government and the clcc.
ton machinery in the s!Xty-seven counties
Of the State arc just preparing to take the
hrst steps toward permitting the tens Of
thousands of Pennsylvanians who have gone
''to the front" TO vote at the election this
fall.
While New York New Jersey and other
eastern States that are sending large quotas
OF their men to the war have completed
their arrangements to guarantee the ballot
TO the men in the field the Pennsylvania
leaders havo only started TO make the nee
sssary arrangements
A hurry call has been sent out for a con-
ference to be held in Harrisburg next Mon
day. At this conference the details of the
plan to let the soldiers vote will be mapped
our. Attorney General Brown. Secretary of
the commonwealth Cyrus l.. Woods and
Deputy Adjutant General Frank D. Beary.
or Allentown, will attend the confab.
The arrangements have been delayed
from week to week, and they may have
been allowed to drag along had not the fac
tional leaders In Pittsburgh Delaware
County and other sections of the State
where there arc bitter contests within the
OrBdHlzatlOn denandeQ action.
SOLDIERS HOLD BALANCE
In Pittsburgh. where there is a three
cornered mayoralty contest within the Or
ganization-one of the most bitter that has
occurred in the state within twenty years
the factional leaders realize that the 10000
men who have enlisted in tho various
branches of the Federal service and who
will be in the National Army traiping
camps on election day. will hold the bal
Ance of power at the general election. They
want the votes of these men recorded, and
requested immediate action by the State ad
mnistration.
None of the tens of thousands OF men who
have donned and who are donning uniforms
from Pennsylvania is entitled to vote at
the primary election. In order to vote at the
general election they must be registered BY
. special commission, which body, under the
laws OF the Commonwealth, will also count
their ballots.
The votes of fully $1,000 Philadephians
will have to be cast under the supervision
of the commission for the Row offices.
judgeships and councilmanic vacancies
that are to be filed on November 6.
In formulating the plans for the casting
of this big vote the State administration
heads are facing hard task
The Pennsylvania laws direct that the
vote shall be cast under the direction of the
commission, and they direct further that
tion day, November G. Other States. New
York for example. permit the ballots to be
cast at any time during period Of ten
days prior to election day.
MANY COMMISSIONERS NEEDED
IS The Pennsylvanians who have entered
the service of the army and navy are
scattered In dozen training camps Also
many are now in France, having gone there
with the first detachmcnts of regulars, en-
-.
Of these under the plan that was carried
out when the Pennsylvania National Guard
was at the Mexican border would mean the
appointment of scores of special commits
sioners
When the State troops were at the border
. commission was named for each county
In the State The commissioners went to
the border. registered the soldiers, and
then supervised the election.
Attorney General Brown today could not
say whether another large number OF spe-
cial commissioners would be named to re-
cord the vote at the various training camps,
and perhaps even in France, or whether
the New York plan OF naming the COM
officers of each military unit as
= special commissioner would be followed
He pointed out that the Pennsylvania
laws clearly specify that no man who is
an officer in the Federal service can be
appointed to a State position.
But, in time OF war this law may not
be in force" he added. II do not know
just how we will work ii out. But I
want to say this that the soldiers will be
given the opportunity TO vote. and it will
be arranged in the most efficient and eco
nomical manner we can think of"
COST WILL BE HEAVY
1t was pointed out TO the Attorney Gem
eral that the appointment of the scores. |
or even hundreds, OF special election COM
would entail an enormous cx-
pense to the taxpayers of the State.
"it will cost an immense sum, no mat !
ter how the vote is taken" he replied
Tho special commissioners who went to |
the Mexican border received no compensa-
ton other than ten cents a mile for trav- |
cling expenses This amounted to tens
or thousands Of dollars, however.
The task that is confronting the State |
and county election officials outside of the |
appointment Of the commissioners, includes:
The collecting OF accurate data as to
the unit to which each Pennsylvania is
attached. and the location Of that unit
on November g. election day.
The printing of short ballots. carrying
the names OF the candidates for the prin- /,
cipal Offices, and having blanks to be |
filed In for the smaller Offices to he
nlled. such as Councils in Philadelphia.
The printing Of books giving the names
and party afiilation Of every candidate
IA the state.
= tho delivery OF. the ballots. books and
ApectAl registration blanks that will be
1,eoeGsary to the various units before cleo
fiop dsy.
rha state administration heads have
<lne)ly decided upon the short ballot for |
n l)61orA according to the Philadelphia
lQ|eh1 they figure that Il would
~ DTI1f the long ballots in