Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-01-19

The sentiment in favor of adopting
the primary election law for the fall
election in Fergus county appears to
be growing. There are a number of
prominent citizens in various parts of
the county who strongly desire to see
the election held under this law, and
they are taking the initiative in urg-
ing that the Waite law be adopted.
The advocates of the plan are increas-
ing all the while, and SO far, no one
appears to be in opposition to the
movement. In view Of the probability
OF an election under this law, some
information as to how it works will
be il interest to readers Of the Argus
all over the county.
The First Move.
Chapter 80 of the act Of 1905, which
is the primary law, provides that the
act shall not take effect in any county
until after it shall have been submit
ted to and adopted by the qualified
electors of such county. For the pur-
pose Of determining the question
whether the people of country de-
sire the law to become a factor in that
county, there must be a special elec-
tion, and it is provided that upon the
presentation of the proper petition or
application the board of county COM
misisoners must order a special elec-
ton for the purpose of submitting the
proposition to the voters
This petition of the commissioners
must be signed by qualified voters of
the county whose names appear on
the last general registration list, to
the total number of fifteen per cent
or more, of the total votes cast for JUS
tice of the supreme court at the last
general election in such county. The
petition must be considered by the
commissioners at regular quarter
ly meeting of the board, and for the
purpose of determining the sufficiency
OF the names with those on the coun-
tvs last general registration list.
If it be found that the petition con-
tains the requisite per cent of names,
the board must at that meeting fix a
date for special election, which must
not be more than 80 days thereafter
and must direct the county clerk to
publish notice of the coming election.
U6 uuCSllOIl llldy Uc SuULllClCu, Ou
separate ballots, at any general elec-
ton, but no special election for sub
mitting the question shall take place
in any month in which a general elec-
tion is held. No new registration
shall be required for this election.
If majority of the votes cast are
in favor of the direct primary system,
the commissioners must declare the
law adopted, by resolution entered
upon the minutes of the board, this
resolution showing the number of
votes cast for and against in each pre-
cinct of the county. The law be-
comes effective upon the entry of such
resolution upon the minutes.
Does Not Apply to All.
The people of county having adopt
ed the direct primary system, the new
law becomes applicable in the nomina-
tion of county and city officials, mem
bers of the legislature and delegates
to county conventions. But it does
not apply to special elections to fill
vacancies, nor to United States sen
ators; members of congress; state
officers; town, village or school dis
trict officers, nor to judicial officers
excepting police magistrates and JUS
tices of the peace in cities.
The primary is to be held on the
first Tuesday in September, prior tC
the general election in November. at
the regular polling places in each pre-
ciIct, and biennially thereafter. Al
least sixty days before the date of the
primary the county clerk shall pre-
pare notice designating the offices
for which candidates are to be nom
mated at this primary, and this shall
be published once a week for fOul
consecutive weeks in some newspaper
of the county. In the case of city
elections, the clerk shall cause one
publication of such notice and posi-
it in three places in each election pre-
cinct in the city. the notice to be sc
given not more than twenty nor less
than ten days before the primary.
No candidates name shall appear
on the official ballot at the primary
unless at least thirty days Except il
the case of city election) prior tt
the primary a nomination paper shall
nave been filed in his behalf in sub
stantially the following term:
81, the undersigned, qualified elec
tor of the ...... precinct of the.
ward of the city of. county O
... and state of Montana, and ;
member of the ..... party, hereb.
nominate who resides a
No. ~ on .. street Or city o
.. Tor if such candidate does no
reside in any city in which the resi-
dences are designated by number. thel
the place of his postoffice address) al
a candidate for the office of. .......
to be voted for at the primary to b.
neld. ..... as representing the prln
ciples of said party. and further de
clare that intend to support the can
didate named herein"
Some Important Provisions.
No signatures shall be counted un
less they be upon sheets having sucl
form written or printed at the tor
However. the names of more than on
candidate for nomination as delegate
to the county convention of polit
cal party from one precinct may b
placed upon the same nomination pa
per or papers to be circulated in tn
precinct. The number of names o.
any nomination paper must not excee
the total number of delegates appOl