The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-05-25
VERY important

uluI Ilul UuUnVU
The Primaries of the Peoples Party.
THE STEPS TO BE TAKEN.
Let All Omcials Study Them and Act
We are indebted tb MIR. H. A. Swain
secretary of the Populist state central
committee, for letter from which we
take the following extracts:
Northfield, Mimi, May 16, 1893.
Dear Sir: Your esteemed favor came
to hand some time ago. I am pleased
that you approve of my position. The
same mail brought me a letter from
Chairman Gibbs requesting that 1 meet
him in conference the week following
for consultation in regard to sending out
blanks, therefore I delayed replying to
your letter, as after the conference I
could better answer your inquiries.
We decided to send blanks to all who
requested. Mr.. Gibbs wished me to as
sist him in the work, and as time was
limited l had to devote my attention to
that work. We were hampered by not
having a list of the county chairmen.
elected at 1896 county conventions; our
only resource was my old list used in the
spring of that year.
That great organizer" (O Sid E. r.
Lynch claimed to have lost his list of
county chairmen. During the last two
weeks of the 1896 campaign I requested
the secretary to furnish me with a copy
Of his revised list of county chairmen,
and also suggested that the chairman of
the state committee should have copy,
but this was not complied with. l send
copy of the forms that we have sent
to those who requested, and many 9TH
erS.
I think that Rice county will be in ia
vor of Independent action.
Will try to prepare an article for the
Representative before the convention
meets.
Mr.. Meighen should not fail to attend
the meeting OF the national committee.
--~.-- Respectfully,
H. A. SWAIN.
The forms are as follows:
SYNOPSIS OF PRIMARY ELECTION
LAW.
Furnished by the Peoples Party State Cen
trail Committee.
To Precinct Committees:
The following is a condensed explana-
ton Of the primary law Of 1895 prepared for
your guidance. You are urged to study it
carefully, and see that your primary cleo
tlon is conducted accordingly:
At least six days before the primary cleo
ton, the call for the same must be posted
in three public places in the precinct.
The primaries are to be called to order
by the chairman or secretary of the pre-
some qualified voter Of the party.
The chairman, clerk of election and two
judges are to be chosen by viva voce vote
by voters Of the party present.
All delegates to the convention must be
elected by ballot. Each qualified eector at
such primary shall place on his ballot
which can be either written or printed, the
same number Of names as the precinct is
entitled to in the convention. A ballots is
void If it contains more names than such
precinct is entitled to as delegates. The
persons receiving the highest number of
votes shall be declared elected, and a plu-
rality shall elect.
No person shall be permitted to vote at
such primary, unless it is positively known
that at the last general election he affiiat-
ed with the Peoples party, or unless he
makes oath that he has united with the
party since the last general election and
the judges are to determine as to the truth
Of such statements, and receive or reject
his vote
No person is qualified to vote at a pri-
mary unless he resides in the precinct for
not less than thirty days preceding such
election.
1t is the duty Of the chairman of the
primary to administer the oath of office
to the judges and to any voter when his
vote Is challenged. The clerk shall keep
a record of the proceeding and is author
lied to administer the oath of office to the
chairman. The form OF oath to be admin
istered to the officers of the primary is the
same as that provided by law to be used
at a general election.
The law makes it the duty of the judges
to receive the votes, and to announce the
name and address of every voter before
he is permitted to cast his vote. If a vote
is challenged the Judges shall decline to
receive the same, until the voter makes
oath that he is qualified under the law gov
erning primary elections. If because Of
sickness or other reasons satisfactory to
the judges, the voter did not vote at the
last general election, the judges shall re-
ceive his vote, provided he makes oath
that he affiliates with the Peoples party.
When the polls are closed, the judges
shall count the votes and report the same
to the chairman who shall announce the
result, and declare elected such candidates
for delegates as shall have received a
plurality Of the votes cast.
The chairman and clerk shall furnish the
delegates elected with proper credentials,
certifying their election, and also furnish
the chairman Of the county central COM
residence of the electors voting in said
primary election.
The law provides that no proxy can be
given by any delegates failing to serve.
but the vacancy thus made shall be filled
by the delegation by the selection Of some
qualified elector, residing in the same cleo
ton district from which said delegation
was chosen, to act in lieu thereof. In case
no qualified elector OF the election district
represented by the delegation Is present to
fill the vacancy caused by the failure of
one or more delegates to serve, then the
delegates present shall have the right to
cast the full vote Of the delegation.
violation Of the law Is made a misde-
meanor, and punishable by fine of not
less than twenty-five, nor more than five
less than thirty days, and not exceeding
six months
SUGGESTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE.
In counties. cities and election precincts
having no party organization or only par
tia1 nartv ORGANIZATIONS and II in such