Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 142, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 June 1912 — TACTFUL VOTER WAS THIS [ARTICLE]

TACTFUL VOTER WAS THIS

Simple Peasant Cast His Ballot to Accompaniment of Delicious Bit of Humor. The simple people of Alsace, who retain In their hearts a strong love for France at the same time that they are desirous not to offend their German rulers too much, frequently have a hard time of It when they are brought to the ballot box to vote for representatives In the German parliament In one election In a certain Alsatian district the two candidates were Kable, an Alsatian of French sympathies, who had protested against the annexation after the war of 1870, and a German. On election day a peasant came to the polling place, which was presided over by a German official. The peasant had In one hand a ticket on which was printed the name of Kable, and In the other a ticket bearing the name of the German candidate. “J'. “Meln Herr,” he said to the German election official, "will you tell me which of these tickets la the better one?" The officer looked at them. "Why, this Is much preferable," said he, indicating the German’s ticket “Ah, I thank you,” answered the peasant. "I will keep It next my heart.” He folded It carefully and put it Inside his coat. “As for this other, then," said he, with an air of putting it away from him as an unworthy thing, "I will leave It here" And he put the kable ticket in the ballot box.