Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-07
PRIMARY NOMINATION
Proposed Reform Measure Pres snted to ii
Wisconsin Legislature.
APPROVED BY STATE ADMINISTRATION
Conventions Done Away with and All
Omeers, Local. state and Ma
tional, 60 BE Nominated
by Direct Vote.

After q months consideration the cleo
tioas committee OF the Wisconsin assembly
has drafted and reported a bill for pri-
mary election reform along the lines laid
down by the state Administration.
The bill provides for the nomination Of
all state %ofncers, congressman, county and
city officers and members OF the legisla-
ture by the primary system. the first pri-
mary to be held the FIRST Tuesday in Sep
TENDER. 1904. and biennislly thereafter
II also provides for the nomination Of
United States senators at the primaries.
though IL is recognized that the obligation
imposed on the legislature would not be a
binding but a moral one.
The provision Of the Stevens bill OF two
years ago regarding party platforms is
adopted, the platform to be promulgated at
a meeting OF candidates for state Offices
and the legislature. A new feature is that
the candidates at this meeting shall also
elect the state central committee, two from
ach congressional district.
At a recent session Of the assembly the
resolution requesting United States SEN
ators TO Use their best efforts to secure an
amendment to the federal constitution pro-
viding for the election Of senators by d.
rect vote was adopted, 60 to Q. The Ian
guage was changed from an instruction to
a request.
Provisions of the Bill.
The primary bill provides that all candr-
dates for elective ofices, including candi-
dates for United States senator. shall be
nominated at a primary election TO be held
the first Tuesday In September, 1904. and
biennially thereafter. excepting candidates
for state superintendent Of instruction,
town. village. school district and judiciary
officers and Justices of the peace.
The secretary OF state at least sixty days
before the September primary shall notify
each county, city and village of the Offices
for which candidates are TO be nominated.
Each clerk must within ten days publish
this notice at least one time. A form IL
provided for the use of candidates, which
must be used in order to insure the plsc,
ing Of a name upon the official ballot.
Must Swear TO Electors.
signers of nominating papers are pre-
cluded from signing more than one petition
for any one office, and must attach resi-
dence addresses. The AFFIDAVIT OF an eleetor
is required to each paper setting forth that
he Is personally acquainted with all the
persons who have signed It and knows they
are electors. There may be any number
OF such afhdavits IL necessary to identify
all signers as electors.
Nomination papers for state ofhcers must
bear the signatures Of l per cent OF the
total vote OF the party in the state. com
ing from six counties. Representatives to
congress must secure the signatures OF 2
per cent OF the voters, and papers must be
circulated in at least one-tenth of the dis
trict precincts. Candidates for county ofices
must secure 5 per cent OF the voters sig
natures.
Separate Party Tickets.
Provision is made for a separate part-
ticket II the nominees receive l per cent
of the total vote cast at the last general
election. Nonpartisan candidates must Sc
cure the signatures OF 2 per cent of the
total gote of the last general election, 10
be obtained in the same way as other can
didates tor the same Offices. Nominations
for city Offices must be filed with the city
clerk; for county ofhces with the county
clerk, and all others with this secretary oil
state.
twenty-five days before the primary the
secretary Of state is to submit the list Of
candidates TO county clerks who twenty days
before the primary must publish 1t at least
once in two newspapers. Publication mus
contain names and addresses Of all candi-
oates, the GATE OF primary ana all necessary
INFORMATION relative to the opening and
closing of polls. Town, city and village
clerks within forty-eight hours after re-
ceiying notices from the secretary Of STATE
shall post copies in conspicuous places.
The OmcinI Ballot.
Provision is made for an ofhclal ballot fol
each voting precinct. on which the names
of ali candidates for whom nominating pa
pers have been filed shall be printed. Re,
garding the preparation and distribution o.
ballots the bill provides that sample ON
cial ballots shall be prepared by eacl
count clerk at least twenty days before
the September primary containing thu
names OF all candidates arranged alphabet
ically and printed on colored paper. County
clerks are required to submit the ticke
Of each party TO the county chairman an'
mail a copy to each candidate.
Primaries In cities are to be open iron
6 to 9 O'Clock. and In the country from
a. m. to s p. m. The Australian ballot is 4
be used. made up OF several party and non
partisan tickets. all fastened together a
top and folded. the names Of all candidate
10 be arDnged alphabetically under tn
proper party designation In case a per
son is nominated on more than one tickle
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