The Bismarck tribune., 1924-07-02
STRAIGHT VOTE
PR0YISI0NIN
LAW REMOVED
Action of 1923 Legislature
Might Have a Bearing on
Fall Election
CHANGES ON BOARD
Independent and Leaguers
Would Divide Boards as
Constituted Now
ON BOARD

A change in the election laws OF
the state. made by the 1928 legisla-
ture, while apparently slight, might
have an important bearing on the
fall election in North Dakota III
view of the results Of the June rs
primary, in the opinion Of many
officials here.
The legislature repealed that sec
tion Of the law which provided that
the voter could vote a straight party
ballot by placing cross in the
space opposite the party name at
the, top of the column. In enacting:
chapter 203 of the session laws OF
1923, the legislature amended section
95! of the election laws, and simply
omitted the provision designed to
facilitate straight party voting ac
ccrding to M. w. Du11y, deputy Sec
retary of state. This section was
not referred to the voters, although
it was included with other laws for
which petitions were circulated, but
failed.
Congressman George M. Young, a
veteran politician, has been quoted
us saying in the past that the nomi
nation on the Republican ticket
meant 5000 straight votes, this
statement having been made before
wcmen were given the ballot. How
ever, under the law as amended the
voter will be required to place an
TX" opposite the name of each
candidate, as was done in the prl-
mary election.
There are reports in circulation
here that the Farmer-Labor Party
would enter candidate for Cover
nor and candidates against the In
dependent candidates who won in
the primary, in the hope of estab-
lishing the Farmer-Labor party as
political party in the next elec-
tion.
Control of Boards {
The Independents will retain con.
troll of many of the state boards
should the result Of the primary
be affirmed in entirety in the fall
election, an examination of the COM
position Of the boards shows. An
unusual situation probably would
arise in the Industrial Commission.
Under the law the Governor has
veto power Of the action of the other
who are the Attorney General and
Commissioner Of Agriculture and
Labor, for which places George f.
Shafer and J. A. Kitchen were re-
nc minated. The Governor, however,
would be unable to initiate any
action without the vote of one other
member, so that the management of
the Bank Of North Dakota and other
industrial enterprises would remain
the same, II Shafer and Kitchen so
desired Some of these employees
are appointed for definite terms, and
some serve without. definite terms.
The rule is, in the case of the ex-
piration of a term, that an .employe
or official holds over until sue
cessor is named, which Mr.. Sorlie
could not name over the objection
of Shafer and Kitchen.
The Leaguers would, if the pri-
mary results are affirmed in the
election, control the auditing board,
which Is composed of the Governor,
Secretary of State, Treasurer, State
Examiner and State Auditor. The
Independents would control the
state board Of auditors, whose duty
it is to make audits Of the indus
trial enterprise. this board, which
was created by initiated law by the
Independents being composed Of the
Attorney General, Auditor and Sec
retary Of State.
The League would control the
banking board, composed Of the At
torney- General and /, Secretary of
Continued on page three.)