The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-06
Election Commission IS
sues Regulations
at ShOreham.
THE END OF RING RULE
Polls Open for Five Hours;
Judges, Party Men-Each
Must Sign Certificate.


the subcommittee Of the Democratic
National Committee met at the Shore
ham Hotel this afternoon and adopted
the rules for the primaries and conven-
ton, the substance Of which were pub
lished in The Times yesterday. There
We're present all of the members of the
commission, Edwin Seton. chairman
Henry s. Mathews. J. Holdsworth Cor
don. and Cotter T. Bride. In addition tC
the rules. the commission issued .
statement to the Democrats Of the Dis
trict making important suggestions for
the election Of national committeeman
and the selection of a central commit
tee.
All ola methods are abolished by the
rules, and in the statement ii Is recon-
mended that the delegates TO the ma
tiOnal convention be instructed 70 vote
for the choice Of the convention for ma
tional committeeman. 1t is also recon-
mended that hereafter the District con-
VentiOn be empowered TO go outside of
the delegates in the selection of mem
bers of the central committee.
The rules. II observed, Will put an end
10 ring rule in the Democratic party in
Washington. Every member of the par
~ hereafter Will have an opportunity 70
vote The rules require that hereafter
polling booths shall be open from 10
40 o'clock p m Heretofore the booths
have been open only from 10 CLOCK.
AS there are nearly p. 600 voters in the
District. It is supposed that 15,UcJ would
try 70 cast their ballots. Should they
do so under the old ring rule they would
nave 70 vote at the rate OF seven sec
ond. providing the members OF the ring,
who usually surrounded the boxes. al
lowed them to reach the voting places.
The rules as adopted contain the fol-
lowing points:
Three FIa~tso1 T.,5oes
There viii be three judges Of elections.
two appointed by the commission. and
the third 10 be selected by the two ap-
pointed
Should the judges fail 20 appoint 9
third man. they viii be removed. and
two more judges appointed. Ii is ruled
that no person shall serve as judge or
clerk unless known 70 be a Democrat.
NO candidate for delegate 10 the local
convention can be a judge or clerk
Judges viii be sworn. and should one
fail TO appear before voting begins the
other judges Will elect a successor.
one judge must be selected by the
others as a presiding Judge
Tie regulations for the election Of del
egates 70 the local convention. and,
later delegates TO the national conven-
ton state that three delegates and the
same number Of alternates shall be
legislative districts. The local conveu-
rlOn Is 20 elect six delegates and six al
AttHdAt@ 10 the national convention.
Lhe local convention VIII De called to
order by temporary chairman appoint
ed DJ the election commission. A CEN
tral committee VIII then be selected one
from each Of the twenty-five legislative
districts The men selected must live in
the districts they represent. and they
need not be delegates 10 the convention.
Registration Rules.
Concerning the registration OF voters
h..
sign printed statement giving his age,
his name and address. that ne has been
a resident Of the district AT least a year
prior 10 the date OF the primary, that he
resides in the district in which ne votes.
lnat NJ Is "a Democrat and that he cx-
poets 20 support the nominees of the
party Tor President and Vice President
anyone refusing 10 sign viii be de-
barred IRON voting unless ne is Dhvsi-
caily unable 10 sign ms name
Ballots VIII be furnished by the com
mission, ana no other sheets VIII be
recognized Candidates must announce
their names 20 the commission al least
one week before the convention
In challenges ma jOrity OF the fr,5.-es
must decide upon the right OF al voter. ~,
cast MS ballot Each csnfid.Je ~ ~
delegate to the District c0u-erti4r uyilI
Be faxed IS. Alternates must paw SCI
BallCts must De crossed with lead
pencil as are state ballots. any ballot
containing any mark other Jhan the
crcss viii be thrown out.
Counting the Ballots.
Il Is provided that ballots shall be
counted Immediately after the closing
or the polls. Boxes must be locked
again and, with all papers, returned 10
the election commission.
All certificates OF election must be is-
sued by the election commission. Judges
and clerks must can at the Office of
the chairman at 4 j. IN the dav prc-
CeSIng the primaries. where they will
be furnished with election material In
case of any interference with voting
tne judges are instructed % call upon
the police FOR assistance ln arresting
the offenders
The rules thee provide for publishing
the call Tor the primaries and c0nVen-
tlOu The primsrles VIII be held from
70 10 O'Clock D. m. May :. and the con
VentiOn on May y at noon
The election commission Is now busy
negotiating FOR a Structure in which 10
hold the convent ion. II is expected that
a theater viii be obtained FOR the pur-
pose.
There was a 1Vell-attenfed meeting Of
the Hearst Working Mems CIuD at Mac
cabee Temple in Ninth Street last night
Addresses were made by Milford SD0hn
president Of the Central Labor Union:
7. ]. Ryan. and Charles Il. Slater.