The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-06-24

Of the resolution. He received Il
second.
Chairman Williams stated that
there were mumbsr of protests filed
brfOr the committee, and that he
would ask the secretary to read them
senator Palmer, a member of the
committee, called atten-
tion to the fact that in the meeting
of the campaign committee there
were no protests filed, and that the
report of the committee was made
out upon the face of the returns.
Mr.. Wolfe asked if the report of the
committee was a unanimous one,
and was told by Mr.. Palmer that it
was, but that it was made without
any protests having been filed.
Mr.. Bryan arose to point of order
and claimed that the report of the
committee was before the meeting
Chairman Williams overruled the
point of order, and made the state
ment that the protests We're filed and
that he wanted them read.
FIRST PROTEST Is READ.
The first protest was read. 1t was
by Hon. r. w Davis and outlined
the action to be taken before the
committee. The protest was to the
effect that the committee could not
meet and canvass the returns of the
election until the twenty days given
Il candidate to file u contest had eX-
pired. The paper submitted pointed
out that the contest had been filed
and that there We're eleven more
days allowed in which to act, and in
which to secure testimony. which
was not given by the committee.
The notice of contest referred to the
counties of Holmes, Jackson, Lnfay-
cite, Santa Rosa, Taylor and Wash
ington.
ANOTHER POINT OF ORDER.
Mr.. Wolfe again arose to IL point
of order. He stated that the notice
of contest was not presented accord
ing to law and that it should have
first been presented by the candi-
dates before the various county eX-
ecutive committees. He attempted
to quote the law in support of his
MR.. ABRAMS REPLIES.
Major Abrams was quick to reply
to Mr.. Wolfe. The two gentlemen
either of the two fac
tions at the meeting had arrived at
an understanding that debate was
not to be cut off. Mr.. Abrams COM
menced his address to the committee
by citing II section of the primary
law as follows:
Section lG. The county eXecu-
cutive or standing committee shall
hear and determine all contests or
protests filed by any county candi-
date before such primary election.
and when any contest or protest is
filed with the county committee
the returns from any
precinct or objecting to any decision
of the cOanty committee, such
county committee shall hear and de-
termine such contest or protest, pre-
serving in writing all the evidence
heard and considered, and all rulings
and decisions made by said commit
tee.
The decisions and rulings of the
county committee shall be final as
to any county candidate before such
primary. If any candidate tor II
state or congressional office is not
content with the decision of the
county committee affecting his can
didacy in said county, said candidate
shall file within twenty (20) days af-
ter the result is declared, with the
chairman of the state or cOngressiOn-
al executive committee, us the case
may be, his protest as to the result
of the election in any county, where
upon the chairman of the state or
congressional executive committee
shall, after filing of such protest,
cause notice of such protest to be
given to the county executive COM
mittee wherein Irregularities are al
legged to exist, whereupon it shall be
the duty of such county committee
to Immediately forward Il certified
COPY of such evidence submitted to
and considered by them, and their
rulings and decisions thereon to the
state or congressional committee, as
the case may be, and such committee
shall review the finding and decis-
ions of the county committee and its
decisions shall be final"
Mr.. Abrams ably pointed out that
the law in reference to state and
congressional candidates was such
as to provide that anv contest must
be filed before the state committee.
He forcibly pointed out that the
contests before the county commit
tees were those where the county
candidates were not satisfied with
the returns.
NOTICES OF CONTESTS READ.
The debate was waxing warm
when Chairman Williams ruled that
as there was nothing before the
house he would insist upon the no.
tees of contests being read by the
ea,rat,ry, pha first uOtice nf n cou-