Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-29
Tho esroor Caucus Law.


for use in the city Of Bangor There
has long been growing feeling
throughout the State that something !
shouid hf. done to more efiectually safe !
guard the. primaries. There Is nothing |
more contemplate than FOR man To |
undertake 10 participate in the cducuses |
of \ partv W hose ticket he does not vote I,
and vet instances Of this kind afre by |
no means rare. especially in communi- |
ties where the old mass caucus is still |
in vogue. Attempts to remedy this |
have been made in number of the |
states, some even going so far as to |
rass laws providing for primary cleo |
tions, With a comprehensive and ef- !
fective caucus law. such mea sure !
,,oes NOT appear 10 be necessary.
The citizen who has sine rely At heart
the welfare Of MS community will al |
ways be found on the side Of an honest
ballot. fairly registering the In
dividual convictions of the voter. When
mon seek TO withdraw the safeguards
that surround the ballot box. il Ia
usually from motives that will not bear
close inspection.
The Australian system Of voting In
some form. IS now In very general use
throughout the country, and has met
the appreciation of the people. To be.
however. in the highest degree eifec-
live il should be supplemented by a
caucus law which viii make 1t both
difficult and dangerous for member Of
one political party TO undertake to
participate In the primaries of another
Whether the Bangor law will accom-
plish the results anticipated remains to
be demonstrated. Inasmuch. however,
40 il is the first law which enforces
registration of voters by parties. and
which undertakes to limit party
caucuses 20 party membership its APP
plcaticn to practical politics will be
watched throughout the State with
very general interest. Men who do not
claim special political allegiance ought
not TO expect to participate in the
primaries of any political party.
The general features of the Bangor
law are these. An annual list Of resi-
dent voters is made by the assessors
who ascertain and designate as nearly
as possible the party affiliations or
each. This list is turned over to the
board Of registration which before the
tenth day of July in each year gives
notice by mail to each voter Of the
patty designation that has been given
him, and also that the same will be
placed upon the certified copies OF the
voting lists to be used in caucuses as
hereinafter provided, unless he re-
quests some other party designation in
person or by writing. on or before the
rirst day Of August next. Said board
shall at the same time so notify every
person having no party designation
upon the assessors lists of the fact Of
such omission and that his name will
bear no party designation upon the vot-
ing lists unless he requests said board,
first day of August next, to make such
designation. In case of additions to and
corrections in the original assessors
list. such notices shall be issued i'm
mediately upon receipt thereof by the
said board. Said board of registration
shall be in public session from nine in
the forenoon to one o'clock in the after
noon. and from three to Ave o'clock In
The afternoon. and from seven until
nine o'clock in the afternoon on each OF
the five secular days next prior to the
first day of August of each year for
the purpose of making additions to said
lists and changes and corrections in the
party designation of voters. And said
board Of registration shall at any pub
lie session when required. add to said
lists OF voters the names of such per-
sons as shall have acquired the right
10 vote in Bangor by reason Of having
become twenty-one years of age or by
reason of having acquired voting
residence therein. being in each case,
otherwise qualified to vote. and shall
properly designate the same upon said
lists" e
The law further requires the Bangor
board Of registration to furnish at the
request of the committees of the va
rious political parties in Bangor certi-
fed copies of the correct lists of the
voters in their respective parties. by
wards or precincts, which lists shall be
used In all taucuses- held for the nomi-
nation of all candidates to be voted for
In city elections. and for the choice OF
delegates for county. district and State
conventions.
No person shall be allowed to vote
in any clucus of any political party
held in said Bangor for any OF the
.hnya ,,,,rnoceS ,,nless the designation