The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-24
KAN. SOLDIERS IN
(continued from Page One

Continued from Page One.)
was also checked up to Governor Cap
per.
Botkin's letter is not the first agita
ton for a special session of the legis-
lature. A special session to make
necessary financial war apportion-
ments and furnish laws to correspond
with federal war legislation has been
asked for and urged by hundreds
Botkin's Letter.
Botkin's letter to the governor fol-
lows:
December "a, 1917
Hon. Arthur Capper, Governor.
My Dear Governor:
public mind at this time concerning the
necessity as weH as the adyisability. of
holding special session of the Iegisla-
ture in the near future.
Without presuming TO advise you as to
your duty in the matter, l wish to direct
your attention and thru you the attention
of the people of Kansas to what seems to
me to be most Important matter.
An important election is to be held in
this state next year for the selection of a
United States senator, state officers; dis
trict and county officers By the time that
election takes place il is safe to say that
at least thirty-five thousand of the best
citizens of our state will be in foreign
lands or in the various training camps of
the country preparing to go abroad to fight
for the honor OF our country and the glory
of its flag in the greatest war in history
1 believe these citizen soldiers shouid
have the right wherever they may happen
to be, to express their choice for candi-
dates for the various offices to be filled
at the primary election and to cast thei r
votes at the general election and have them
counted. The law granting soldiers the
right to vote in the field was passed by
the Legislature of 1865. and applies onIy to
the militia and volunteer soldiers | think
the sentiment is practically unanimous
turnout the state that all our soldier boys
whether volunteers or those chosen by the
selective draft, should have and exercise
these rights whether within the borders of
In ion la,
If it should be held by the attorney gen
eral or by the court that selected men NAV
vote under the provisions of the act of 1875
under our present complicated primary and
general election laws it is impracticabIe il
not wholly impossible. for them to do so
II stationed in foreign lands at the time of
the election, for the following reasons
The primary election takes place next year
August 9. Notice of this primary must be
given April 8. Nomination papers must he
filed on or before June 26. The state board
OF canvassers meet to examine and pass
upon nomination papers July 1. The secre-
tary of state must certify to each county
clerk in the state a list of the names OF
lot on or before July 6. Upon the receipt
thereof such clerk shall proceed to publish
shall then print and distribute the ballots
to the various township and city Officers
and to the governor for the soldiers in the
field Three weeks from July brings us
| TO July n. From July u to August g. the
day Of the primary, is ten days. During
that ten days the county clerk must print
and distribute these ballots to the township
| and city boards and forward ballots fol
| the soldiers to the governor, who shall pro.
coed to deliver the same to the soldiers In
| the field in time for them to vote at the
/ primary August 6.
You will readily see not only the i'm.
practicability but the absolute impossi.
| bility of strict compliance with these
provisions. and will. no doubt. rea1ize tht
necessity of simplifying our cumbersome
| election machinery If our soldiers are t.
vote in the field.
Very truly,
! J. T. BOTKIN
Secretary of State