Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1902-07-17

THE PRIMARY
ELECTION LAW
The Primary Election is held
for the purpose of nominating
candidates for the different Of
fices by the voters of the re-.
spective parties.
In 1902 the Primary election
will be held on September 10th.
The Polls shall be kept open
from six o'clock in the morning
until nine o'clock in the eve.
ming. All persons present at
the hour of closing are entitled
to vote.
The last day on which certifi.
Gates of candidates can be filed
is Aug. 9th.
For the first time in the history of
the state the plan OF making direct
nominations by the people will be
tried under the new Primary Elec-
tion Law The primary election
takes the place Of caucuses and con-
ventions, at which, heretofore, candi-
dates have been placed in nomina-
tion for the different public offices by
the several political parties. AS a
rule, the majority Of the voters in all
political parties have taken little
interest in caucuses and conventions
in the past, hence the selection Of
delegates and the making OF party
nominations was left to those who
did take such interest in political
matters. Many good citizens have
Erefrained altogetherfrom attending
caucuses. Too frequently it has
happened that unscrupulous poll
ticians and political bosses have
manipulated both caucuses and con-
ventions for their own selfish aims.
Each political party has felt the
need of some system whereby the
great body OF voters, the rank and
file Of the party, could make their
influence felt IN making party nomi-
nations. With this end in view the
Primary Election law was passed by
the last legislature. 1t gives the
people better chance to make
/ known their wishes in the selection
of candidates. Whether or not the
people will avail themselves OF this
privilege depends on how generally
they attend the primary election.
It. is the duty Of every citizen quail
flied to vote to cast his or her vote
at the primary election, which is as
important as the general election.
At the primary election the voters
meet as members OF political party.
At that election the contest is not
between opposing political par
ties, but between candidates of
the same party, who may be rivals
for d nomination for the same office.
A political party within the mean
ing Of the law is one which cast at
least 10 per cent Of the vote at the
last preceding election.
At the primary election there will
be as many different ballots as there
are political parties with candidates
in the field, and each voter will call
for the ticket of the party to which
he belongs or desires to be affiliated
with. This ballot is very much like
the Australian ballot used at gen
eral elections, but contains only the
names OF candidates OF one party
seeking the nomination for office.
If there is only one candidate for a
certain office, there is no contest
within the party for that nomina-
tion, but the voter ought neverthe
less to record his will by the usual
mark. If there are two or more can
didates for the same office, the voter
will make his choice by placing an x
mark opposite the name OF the one
whom he desires to see nominated.
No new names can be written on the
ballot, nor can the candidates of one