The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-17
TO BE DECIDED BY THE PARTY.
PRIMARIES INDEPENDENT Oh
STATE REGISTRATION LAWS.

Inc executive tom mlltee OF the /
Democratic Party Prescribes the |
Qualifications of Voters and says
What Registration Lists Shall He
Used in Primary EIectiOns-The
Lists Prepared at the Party's EN-
pensc and Under Its Rules, and
State Laws Claimed 10 Have Moth
ing to Do with Them.
1t is hardly probable that here will be
any trouble about the question of voters
lists for the primary elections. Some
question has been raised with regard to
this subject, it being made to appear that
the new state registration law has made
no provision with regard to primaries,
and the registration lists to be used in
conducting them
1t has been stated that the provisions
for securing voters lists did not cover
primaries. as nothing is mentioned in the
state registration law, but the regular
elections. It has also been stated that
there is a question as to whether any
registration lists, made up from the regis
tration books now being used, fifteen days
before the primaries and for use in the
primaries, would be legal, because of the
fact that no provision has been made for
them.
Some of those interested in the measure
when it was first framed were consulted
by the Morning News yesterday, and it
is stated with good authority that the
state registration law has nothing what
ever to do with primaries. The control of
the primary elections is altogether with
the democratic party.
The only legislation that has ever been
fa1 Nit I'd to -,rfv,, aYfa- cafa
one of the gentlemen interested, lis that
which makes fraud in them Illegal Every
other feature of the primary elections is
left altogether with the executive COM
mittees which have them in charge. The
executive committees call the primaries,
they state between what hours they
shall be held, they name the qualifications
for voters in them, and they make ar
rangements with regard to the managers
of them.
Particularly does the executive commit
tee nave the power to say what shall be
the qualification of voters in the prima-
ries. Therefore, the executive commit
tee says what registration lists shall be
used in conducting the primaries.
or course, 1t Is manifestly unfair, as
all interested win say that any other reg
istration should be used in the conduct
of the primaries than that used in the
regular elections which follow the prima-
RES In that case for fairness to all con-
cerned, II would be necessary to use the
registration lists which have been made
this year, and which will be used in the
rail- elections. The matter has been thor
oughly looked into and it has been found
that If the party so desires the present reg
lstration lists, that is, those now being
taken in the office of Capt. J. J. Nc
Gowan, the tax collector, can be used
without revision. In other words the
party could provide for simply securing
copies OF these registration lists, and
make such rules as would allow only those
who can come up to the other qualifica-
tons to vote in the primaries
matter Of rot
ers in primaries is left altogether in the
hands OF the party, and the party is eX-
pected TO make such rules and regula-
tons with regard to it as will be fair to
both sides. This is what the matter fin
ally came to in the primary of 1894 when
II was round that the mass meetings were
not successful. The leaders of both sides
got together and they decided upon GER
tam qualitcations for voters which were
acceptable to both sides, and they We're
adopted in the shape of resolutions in
troduced by Mr.. w. G. Cam.
1T is altogether probable that the execu-
tive committee will hold a meeting some
time before the first primary will take
place and adopt a resolution providing
that all those white democrats who have
registered up to a certain date previous
10 the day of the primary will have the
right TO vote at the primary election. Then
the managers appointed will be the Judges
or VINO comply with these qualifications
'There is no registration law, whether
county or state, that makes any distinct
provisions with regard to primary cleo
lions, 1t is stated, as it has always been
a recognized right and prerogative of the
party to make its own arrangements with
regard to primaries. The matter was
thoroughly investigated some time ago
and plenty of law was brought to bear
upon the subject, so that it can be shown
that the present registration lists can be
used in the coming primaries, if desired
without any revision whatever. This. is
mine, and if it decides that a revision
should be had, it can be had at the ex-
pense of the party, and without any ques-
the registration lists used at such pri-
maries."