Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-07-13
NEW CAUCUS LAW.
An Important Measure-Text of the At
torney-GeneraI's Construction.


political caucuses goes into effect with
the prellmlnaries to next falls general
election. 1t is of great Importance.
as it materially alters the former
manner of holding primaries Every
voter should study the law thoroughly.
as he will be required to be governed
by its provisions. In order to oct it
properly before the voters, the Repub-
lican State Central committee has
secured a construction Of the law from
the assistant attorney-general, and in
conformity with the same has issued
the following circular:
In accordance with suggestion made
at the late meeting of the State Cen
tral committee that proper legal opin-
ion be obtained as to the application
of the new caucus law to the holding
of caucuses for the the coming general
election, outside of Milwaukee county.
we are advised by First Assistant At
torney-General j. L. Erdall that the
law, in general elections, outside of
Milwaukee county and in the absence
of vote to adopt the same, is only
applicable to Incorporated cities in
Wisconsin, and does not apply in any
way to caucuses held in towns and
villages. The caucuses in the towns
and villages will be conducted in the
same manner as heretofore.
1t is his opinion that the County
committee shall act in all general
elections, having charge of all the
details thereto; and in accordance
with this ruling the first duty of the
County committee will be to appoint
three electors in each caucus district
in each incorporated city in the county
(if it has not already been done) who
shall act as inspectors of the caucus. as
provided IN section ;, chapter SIP,
laws of 1897; and each electOr so ap-
pointed must, within ten DAYS from
the time Of his appointment, file with
the county clerk oath or affirmation
as required by this section. The
County committee may, at any time
prior to the opening of the caucus,
remove any inspector so appointed
and appoint another in his place who
shall qualify in like manner. In case
any inspector shall fail to appear at
the time fixed for opening such eau
Gus, the inspector or inspectors pre-
sent shall appoint some eIector, resi-
dent Ofthe caucus district in which such
caucus is held, in the place of such
absent inspector, who shall administer
to such person the oath provided for
in this act. The chairman, secretary
and three inspectors shall be a can
vassing board, who shall faithfully.
honestly, and correctly canvass all
votes cast at the caucus, and in every
way comply with the provisions of
this act.
The caucus law of 1897 provides
for preliminary meetings to be held
prior to the holding of the caucuses,
the object Of such meetings being to
propose names of persons who may
be voted for at the caucuses to represent
the caucus district at the county con-
vention, or in case there is more than
one assembly district in the county,
at the assembly district convention.
| The method OF procedure in calling
and holding these preliminary meet
ing8 is as follows: AS provided in
section 6, chapter 312, laws of 1897. the
County committee shall issue a call
for preliminary meetings of Repub-
lican electors to be held in each eau
Gus district in every incorporated
city in the county four days prior to
the caucnses. At least ten days no
tice shall be given for the holding of
such preliminary meetings.
The chairman of the ward, or in
the absence of such chairman, eau
Gus inspector, shall open the prelimi-
nary meeting. After the election of
chairman and secretary Of the prelim-
mary meeting, who by virtue of such
election shall also act as chairman
and secretary Of the caucus, the
chairman Of said meeting shall declare
nominations open for delegates to the
county convention Cor assembly dis
trict convention, in case the county
contains more than one assembly dis
trict) to elect delegates to the state con-
ventlons, as given in the call of the
County committee; whereupon nOmi-
nations may be offered by any Repub-
llcan electOr present.
The County committee is also
required to furnish for each caucus
district, blank ballots Of uniform size
and color for the use of the secretary
of the preliminary meeting. AS the
names OF delegates are proposed they
shall be written upon the ballots bv
the secretary and placed in a ballot
box. The chairman, before enter
tanning motion ''that nominations
may be closed" shall first put the
| question to the meeting, repeating
the same twice: g Are there anv
further nominations" Such action
must be first taken and every oppor-
tunity given electors to propose names
before motion to declare nominations
closed can be entertained or voted |
upon by the meeting. The nominal
tions having been closed the meeting
shall elect two tellers, whose duty it |
shall be TO withdraw, one by one, |
the ballots placed in the ballot box |
(after the same has been thoroughly |
shaken), and the chairman and secre-