The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-09
new BALLOT 0. K.
It's Not Return to "Menag-
erie" Voting System.
Many People Are Misinformed
About the Mack Measure.

Kansas will not return to a ballot
with live stock. poultry, agricultural
and horticultural display if Governor
Capper decides to sign the Mack bill
repeating the Massachusetts, ballot
law. Many political observers have
been misled by belief that the
Mack measure meant a return to the
former ballot law with circles and
squares and all manner of barn-yard
displays for the safe direction and
guidance of the voters.
The measure now on Governor Cap
per's desk is a compromise bill that
merely permits straight party voting
by a single designation. When the
Mack bill came before the house it
was in the form of an agreed meas
ure by many of the party leaders of
regular. That fact is bit of
the inside history of the bill The
member from Harvey county did not
advertise the fact that his bill has
been passed upon and approved by
men of all elements of the party.
Once the bill was up for final passage,
however, it won the support of all
except two Republicans in the house
and lost but six Republican votes in
the senate.
Changed His Plans.
Mack really came to the legislature
with desire to return to the Austria
liam ballot law and to abolish the
Massa C husettS system adopted by the
Democrats in 1913. 1t was after
council with prOgreSsiVes of his DartV
with whom Mack had associated that
he decided to revise his bill. He then
introduced q compromise measure
that was approved by Republican
leaders in all parts of the state The
measure merely afforded relief for the
men and women who knew nothing
of the personal qualifca tons of many
of the candidates, but desired to sup
port their party candidates. Under
the bill, a voter might cast a solid
party vote by a single designation. Or
the voter might make a party desig-
nation and vote for candidates of an
other party where a personal prefer
ence prevailed.
The Harvey county member discuss
ed the provisions of his bill with
Charles sessions, chairman of the Re-
publican state committee. Sessions
did not believe return to the old
Australian ballot law was wise Ses-
sions did believe. however, that the
existing ballot law should be wiped
from the statutes and a law enacted
permitting straight party voting where
desired.
1t was largely at the suggestion of
Chairman Sessions that Mack wrote
bill permitting straight voting but
abolishing former objectionable fea-
lures. 1t was this bill which passed
the legislature ana is now in the hands
Of the governor.
Democrats Protest.
Republican county chairmen and
Republican leaders of both factions
in all sections of the state, have taken
q keen interest in the new law. Scores
of these men have sent kilograms to
Governor Capper urging him to sigl
the bill.
On the other hand many persons
who believed the new law meant a re-
turn 20 the Objectionable features of
the Australian ballot law, have pro-
tested against the measure and urged
the governor to use his veto power.
Many of the persons who protested,
however, were Democrats-practica
all opposed to the bill-or Republicans
misled in their understanding of the
law, as the measure now in the hands
of the governor shows none of the
Objectionable points.