Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-04-06

ure, effective at once, this will be done
1t is estimated that a friendly legisla
ture can put a new law on the statute
books in not exceeding two weeks o.
at the most three weeks.
In such a case the delay will not be
longer than 80 days, and then the IL
terrupted work of primaries and con-
ventions will be resumed as soon as
new calls can be issued.
In case the two-thirds necessary
cannot be secured. then the act will
be passed by a majority, will go into
effect in July, and the primaries ami
conventions will come along aftes
ward.
Wants Uniform Primaries.
Governor Deneen is determined that
not only the republican primaries but
all primaries shall be held in accord
ance with the law yet to be framed
In issuing the call for the, special ses-
sion he has stated four subjects for
the consideration of the general as
Sembly One is to make an emergency
appropriation for the executive depart
ment, the present one having been ex
hausted by the Illinois Central and
other investigations undertaken b.
him. The second is to make an ap-
preparation for the state civil service
commission, little detail overlooked
by the members when they were put
ting the commission in being.
The third is TO pass a new primary
law; the fourth is TO amend the pres
ent election law 1t is proposed to
make this amendment to prevent the
-, .I.,lI =
has not been placed in nomination af-
ter submission to the people on the
primary ballot as provided in the law
yet to be passed.
That is, no man could be an candi-
date unless he had been nominated in
the manner prescribed by the primar:
law.
Socialists Had Backing.
The primary law was attacked by
the socialists. and it has been rumored
that others have been behind the move
ment whose names did not appear on
the surface.
The court in concluding the opinion
says: mo reason is or can be sug-
gested for excluding the nomination of
candidates for judges of the circuit
court in other counties, and includ
ing judges of the circuit and superior
court in Cook county. There can be
no reason founded on population, VIII.
the central committee in small coun
ties should determine questions not
committed to the discretion of like
committees in large counties. mol
reason has been suggested by the coun-
sci for the defendants why a party
having polled 10 per cent of the last
vote for president within the whole
state should have the privileges of the
act in small counties while the same
party in large county should be re-
quired to have 20 per cent.
Elections Not Free and Equal
1--WE are also of the opinion that it
violates the provisions of the constitu-
ton that elections shall be free and
equal in permitting voters in the state
at large outside of Cook county. to
vote at primary elections by stating
their party affiliations, while a voter
in Cook county is denied that right if
he has voted at the primary election
of another party within two years, and
also in providing a different basis on
which party in Cook county may
avail itself of the privileges of the act
from the requirement for other parts
of the state"
The court then declares the act of
1905 unconstitutional and the act of
1901 still in force