Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-08-02
Massachusetts, Caucus Law.

Can a good and practicable law fol
the government OF party caucuses be-
! devised There need bc no serious diff
tculty on that point Various states
have such laws, which work with great.
or or less efficiency according 10 the
greater or less wisdom with which they
were framed. the poorest of them be-
! inc better than no law on the subject.
/ Massachusetts has an excellent law.
! Some Of its provisions are as follows =.
All caucuses for the choice OF dele
| gates to the state or district or county
conventions should be held throughout
the state on one or two consecutive
days, 10 be designated by the state
committees OF the respective parties.
each city OF town committee determin-
ing on which Of the two days the eau
Gus shall be held in that city or town
or ward. The calls for the caucuses
must be issued twenty-One DAYS i'm add
vance Ofthe caucuses, and the caucusesi
must be held not less than fifteen DAYS
before the date Of the respective con
NentiOns. These provisions prevent
''snap CauCuses." Caucuses 10 uomi-
nate candidates for town representa-
tives must be called upon seven days
notice. Every caucus must be called /
by written or printed notice, proper /
ly published, and such notices apply |
to all members Of the political party /
calling them and 10 no others. No two /
political parties shall hold caucuses on /
The same day, and no person who has
taken part in the caucus Ofonc party is /
entitled to take part in q caucus Of an
other party within the ensuing twelve
months.
The election voting lists of the town
N wards are 10 be used as check lists
n the caucuses. and no person is en-
tiled 70 take part in any caucus whose
lame does not appear ON the voting h
list, OF the town or ward. The choice
Il delegates is to be by ballot and the {
allot box must be kept open at least
hirty minutes
Similar provisions apply TO caucuses /
D nominate candidates for city or town
representatives or city or town officers. I
NOmlpdtions OF candidate, for local
lective offices must be made bv nomi-
alton papers. 10 be signed By at least /
We legal voters of the town or ward )
mo are members of the political party
D which the candidate belongs and the :
ccepance OF such a nomination bv Il
ne candidate must be filed with the /
papers.
II the right of man who offers 10
ote in a caucus is challenged. the pre- l
ding officer shall require him or some a
ne for him 70 write his name and res ?
ience upon the ballot he ha, offered e
he presiding officer adds the name Of 5
ne challenger. and the cause Tor the
lialenge, and the vote OF any person a
hose vote is challenged must not be b
'ceiyed and counted, until he ha, a
Jade oath ito be administered 10 him s.
y the presiding otiicer) that he is a !.
clustered voter i'm the town or ward >
lat he Is member ofthe political par
which Is holding the caucus, and in
.nds to vote for it, candidates at the
ecuon next ensuing, and that he has II
lt taken part OF voted i'm the caucus
any other political party for twelve y
onths lastpast.
The count must take place immedi- "
,'iVNA 1iiS 8iitot bOAt~ are closed, 4.
illl view OF the voters, and within q
ree feet OF the rail. The clerk of the 49,
Iucus must at once enter on record :
BOX the total number Ofnamc, check q,
ON the voting list. the total number
votes cast. and the total number p
1T Tor each candidate: and he must h,
fore the adi0urnuaent and i'm the
essence Of the caucus officers seal up St
e ballo-s and check lists. and must b.
'oduce them before amy convention
court having authority to decide "a y
infested choice.-rFree Press. "