The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-09-16


WELD vast influence in the councils
OF the party and direction of a vigor-
Gus campaign.
Hon. T. G. Gibbs and E. r. Lynch,
Chairman and Secretary of Peoples
Party State Central Committed:
Gentlemen
AT the eareeSt request OF large
constituency OF voters of this district,
l am requested to ask you to answer
he following questions In your official
capacity, and quote the law covering
same:
1st. Are primary notices as required
by law mandatory" or "optional?''
End. Whose business is 1t to post
notices for primaries in each precinct;
also what penalty, II any, for failure
to post same?
3rd. In tie event that the proper
committee fail or refuse to perform
their duties, what remedy have the
people got to carry out the law?
4th. Where there are no primaries
in which enough people did not con-
gregate to fill the primary board. and
say only one man was present during
the whole time the notice called for
the polls to be open, is he the qualified
ucl0k lOI kICCluCCs
9th. Where no primaries are held
at all can those primaries be filled; II
so, by whom, the county or city COM
they be admitted after the temper
airy organization Is made permanent?
9th. II a delegate does not present
his credentials until the convention
is called to order, Is the delegate en-
titled to voice in the temporary or
ganiZation? Yours Respectfully,
john G. Hanley.
Chairman Executive Board Peoples
Party League. Fourth Congressional
District.
Answer to question No. 1. Section
2, chapter 276.
The law is mandatory. The law
says: 1.-THE duly authorized Con nit
tee of the political party holding said
primary election shall cause proper
notices to be posted in three public
places, in said precinct. giving the
time and place Of holding said pri-
mary elections in said precinct"
Answer to question 2.
For the city conventions it is the
duty of the city committee to cause
the proper notices to be posted.
Answer to question 3.
II the proper committee fail or re-
fuse the proper notices to be posted,
the people in that precinct may, in
our opinion (there being no law gov
proper notices to be posted and hold
the primaries.
Question 4. II only one person at
tend primary, no delegate can be
elected. In that case the convention
may seat whosoever they wish. But
the man who did attend should re-
ceiye more consideration than some
one who did not. (There being no
law covering this point.)
Question 5. If no primaries are
held in any precinct, the convention
may seat any resident of that precinct
whom they see fit. The city or coun-
ty committee have no authority to act
in this matter.
Question 6. There is no law cover
ing this point. Will say in Minneap-
oils wherever the custom In all politi-
cal parties is to allow all persons
holding credentials to take part in
forming the temporary organization,
whether they appear before or after
the convention is called to order.
Sec. 10. ANY person violating any
of the provisions of this act shall be
guilty Of misdemeanor and on con.
viction thereof shall be punished by a
fine of not less than twenty-five ($25)
dollars and not exceeding five hun
dred ($5OU dollars, or imprisonment
for not less than 30 days and not ex-
ceeding six months.
We do not desire to dictate the
course to be pursued by any conven-
ton, but merely offer these answers
for those who wish to have them.
F. G. Gibbs.
Chairman State Central Com mi ftee