The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1904-02-11
PRIMARY LAW
is MODIFIED,
BILL ELIMINATING "ELECTO-
RIAL FEATURE.
HAS PASSED THE HOUSE
flfty Inmates of Jackson orphanage
have Measles. Small Pox Precau-
tons at Eattiesburg. Other News
of Mississippi.

The bill amending the primary law
introduced by Mr.. Sample, and passed
Sy the house, changes the original
measure In some respects, all adds to
IL IN others. The most important
change is In section 2 of the present
bill, which eliminates what is known
as the electoral FEATURE of the
Iromer one, and makes it necessary
Tor all candidates to receive a major
Ity OF the vote cast in order to Sc
cure the nomination. The bill also
amends the former measure in the fol-
lowing particulars: There is a pro-
vlslen that Pictorial and senatorial dis
trlct executive committees are to be
appointed by the various county ex-
ecutlve committees of the district
The former law had no reference to the
mode OF their selection. Vacancies
IN the state and county executive COM
mittees shall be filled by such com
mltteess themselves and from
the districts in which the vacancies
occur. All other vacancies are to be
filled by the committees of the coun-
ties making the original appointments.
These provisions were lacking in the
former law. The county executive
committees are required to designate
date and the number of delegates to
be elected to county delegate conven-
tons, giving at least ten DAYS no
tlce, and on that date, 10 O clock, the
electors shall meet at the usual voting
place and by secret ballot elect dele
gates. Section 3 changes the original
measure so that it is not necessary for
one desiring to participate in a pri-
mary to have actually "voted' with
the party at an election within two
years. He is simply required to have
been IN political accord with the par
ty within that time and not to have
been excluded by any regulations of
the state executive committee. Anv
member of the party holding the cleo
ton, or any primary election officer,
may challenge any man as to his quail
lhcatlons as voter. Any election off
Ger may administer the oath. and false
swearing shall be punishable as per-
jury. Section forbids county com
mlttees to assess state candidates
more than county candidates, and also
requires a refund Of any money, left
after the cost Of printing Of tickets
and transmitting ballot boxes and
boothes have been betrayed. Sec
ton 6 changes the time for examining
the registration books from October
TO July, so as to have them examined
IN plenty Of time before the primary
election. Section is an entirely new
feature. 1t provides that where there
is only one candidate for a position,
after the expiration of the date on
which other candidates can legally get
their names on the ticket, the execu-
tive committee shall declare such sole
candidate the nominee without the for
mality Of primary. Section s re-
quires the county executive commit
tees, IN the appointment Of officers Of |
the election, to distribute them as faras
possible among the supporters of the
candidates for those Offices "about
which there are the leading contests.
And if there be no doubt as to which |
are the leading contested ones, then
among the supporters of the eandi-
dates competing for the highest Of
dces."