The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-01
PLAN FOR THE
NEXT PRIMARIES
At Which Constitutional Conven-
ton Delegates VIII be Elected.
COMMITTEE HELD MEETING
Practically the Same Plan in Vogue at
Last Primaries Was Adopted
Date of Election Fixed
- for March IL.
COMMITTEE HELD MEETING


carry out the plan for holding the primary
on March IS, held meeting yesterday af-
ternoon for the purpose of making final
arrangements for the election. All OF the
members of the committee were present. as
follows: r. J. Waldrop, chairman; 1. B.
Smith, s. S. Shores. H. B. Gray and ]. 8.
Kennedy. r. H. Thach was a member OF
the committee, but he has resigned, Delng
a candidate for the constitutional conven-
ton
According to the plan adopted, every
candidate for the convention must hand In
his name on or before March s, week
from today.
The committee elected B. A. Thompson
as its secretary, and he was given charge
of carrying out all the practical workings
of the plan-that is, he is to collect the
fees from the candidates, distribute the
boxes to the managers which the commit
tee is to name later, and all the other
details.
Mr. Thompson is not member OF the
executive committee, but he was when the
last primaries were held, and at that time
was in charge of the primary just as he Will
be this time.
Assessed Among the Candidates
The committee yesterday estimated that
the expenses of the primary would be be-
tween $500 and $500, and this amount is to
be assessed among all of the candidates.
This will make the fee for each one OF
them. it is estimated about 500 or $50, de-
pending on the number of candidates.
The following is the plan for holding the
primaries, which was adopted. 1t Is just
the same as the plan for the last primaries
except that it is made to fit the conditions
of the present election.
Plans for the Primaries
The primary election shall be held py
three managers two clerks and return
ing officer at each polling place. The re-
turning officer shall perform those duties
prescribed by law for such officers in a
general election. The polls shall be opened
at o'clock a. m. on the day fixed for the
primary, and shall close at p. m.
Notice of voting shall be given ten days
before the election, in all the other beats
or subdivisions of beats by posting a no
tice therein The notice herein provided
for shall be given by the committeeman
from the precinct or subdivision.
committee of arrangements shall APP
point the managers, clerks and returning
officers from lists which may be furnished
by any candidate for delegate, or by the
executive committeeman from the voting
precinct. In making said selection the COM
mittee shall, as far as practicable, arrange
a fair division among competing candi-
dates, SO that adverse interests may be
represented. The committee is especially
urged to appoint as managers, clerks and
returning officers men of we'll established
reputation for fairness and integrity in
their respective communities. and as far as
pra cticable no two managers or clerks In
any beat or subdivision shall be supporters
of any one candidate. The committee shall
publish in some newspaper list of the
managers, clerks and returning officers
All lists of names must be furnished said
committee on or before March s, next.
In beats where there are more than one
voting place the executive committeeman
from said beat, In announcing the place of
voting, shall indicate how said beat is
subdvided, and that voters residing in the
subdivisions vote only at the polling place
provided for said subdivision.
The election shall be conducted with as
much publicity as is consistent with the
orderly and proper management of the
same.
The names of all the candidates for dele
gate to the constitutional convention shall
be printed on the same ticket. The names
of delegates to the county convention to be
held for the purpose of nominating and
selection of delegates to the state conven-
ton, shall be printed or written upon sepa-
rate ballots. The ballots for all delegates
to the constitutional convention shall be
prepared by the committee of arrange
ments, and shall be the official ballots, and
none but the official ballots shall be
counted. The committee shall not print the
ballots for delegates TO said county con-
vention. All ballots to be cast in said cleo
ton shall be on white paper, without any
identifying devices or marks thereon.
ny IN
printed upon the official ballot shall make
a written request to that effect addressed
to the chairman of the executive committee
and filed with the secretary of the commit
tee 3of arrangements. He shall therein
state his name, residence. and the office
for which he is candidate, and shall
therein pledge himself to abide the result
and to support the nominees of the pri-
mary, which request and pledge he shall
deliver to said chairman not later than
March 10, 1899. The said chairman shall at
once, after receiving said request, make a
copy of the same, and deliver 1t to the
committee of arrangements.
Immediately after the polls have been
closed the managers shall proceed to count
the ballots, counting first the ballots for
delegates to the county convention. After
counting these the managers shall pro-
claim and post at the voting place the re-
suit of the election for delegates, and they
shall give to the delegates receiving the
highest number of votes a certificate stat
ing the number of ballots cast for each,
and that they were duly elected delegates
from the particular precinct, which certifi-
cate shall be prima facie evidence of right
to a seat in the county convention, ex-
cept where a contest may be made; in such
event the county executive committee shall
determine who is entitled to the "prima
facie" right to the seat in the convention
where there is more than one voting place
in the precinct. The parties receiving the
greatest number of votes in the entire
party prcinct shall be entitled to the GER
tificate. And where more than one voting
place exists in precinct it shall be the
duty of the managers to certify the vote
for delegates to the county executive COM
mittee in the same manner as other candi-
dates, and the executive committee shall in
such cases issue the certificates.
The managers shall then proceed to count
tho ballots. After the count Is finished
they shall proclaim and post the result at
tho voting place, I'LL out certificate giving
the name of each person and no votes cast
voted for, including delegates to the coun-
~ convention. They shall also certify
fherntn that the afactgnc xroc dufv hold