Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-29
Less Complicated Than Bill Proposed
BY crossIey at the Previous Session
of the Lesislature-calIs for State
and District Conventions on Fixed
Dates-Provisions of Both Bills.
Special to Times-Republican.

l Lie 1EOSSl6y Ulll IS SIlOI Lei lLdll LIE
Peterson bill, the two filling fifteen
| and twenty-one pages respectively.
They follow the same general lines =
primaries on specific dates, nomina-
ton papers filed, declaration of party
utilization and conventions to follow
the primaries. But in many ways they
show deviation. Both provide for the
| nomination Of all township, county, dis
| trict and state candidates by majority
vote, at primaries where all parties
vote at the same time and in,the same
way. Both provide for indicating pref
erence for candidates for United States
senator. Both provide for election Of
party committeeman.
The Crossley bill also provides for
nomination OF electors for president,
but only by inference is this included
in the Peterson bill. Peterson also
provides for all municipal nominations
in the same way Crossley applies it
only to cities of 5000 or over. Crossley
provides for election Of delegates to a
county convention.
A political party is defined by Cross
ley as ANY political organization which
maintains a county, district or state or
ganization;" and Peterson describes it
as "a party which at the last preced-
ing general election cast for its candi-
date for governor at least 2 per-
cent Of the total vote cast at said cleo
ton"
The Crossley primary election would
be held the third Tuesday in August,
the municipal primary the fourth
Tuesday preceding the election. The
Peterson primary would be held the
first Monday in September, and for cit
les and towns the first Monday in
March.
In the Crossley primary Judges and
clerks of election would be chosen as
for a general election. In the Peterson
primary the judges and clerks of the
general election shall serve. In the
Peterson bill there is provision for
registration where registration is re-
Quired now.
Crossley would have uniform official
ballots; Peterson would have ballots of
different colored paper to indicate diff
ferent parties.
Peterson would have the polls open
as for general elections; Crossley would
open polls in cities from a. m. until
8 D. M, and in the country from 1
p. m. until 8 p. m.
In regard to determining party af-
fliation Crossley provides at the first
election under the law each voter on
entering the booth or receiving his
ticket make q declaration, thereafter
that the county auditor shall certify a
list of voters with their party affilia-
ton designated and such changes as
shall have been made, that sixty days
before the primary voter may change
his party by a declaration in writing
filed with the auditor, and at the time
Of voting may declare a change of
party but If challenged shall swear to
his change in good faith.
In the Peterson bill there is no pro-
vision for list, but the person offering
to vote shall declare his party, and II
challenged shall swear to his right to
vote and his party, thereupon receiving
a ballot.
Candidates names shall go on ballots
alphabetically and there is provision
for voting for candidates not on the
DdllOls Sduu1udIcS uIIOSI SllHCI Sy SICAA
must secure petitions with signatures
Crossley provides that for senator or
elector signatures must equal / per
cent of the party vote in at least ten
counties, and for other offices 2 per
cent of the party vote. Signatures
must carry addresses and be certified to-
Peterson provides that anyone may be
candidate for United States senator on
filing written request to secretary of
state thirty days before the primary.
Candidates for state office must have
500 signatures; all others per cent of
the party vote.
The canvass of votes in the Crossley
bill is by the county auditor in the
presence of the county committee Of
the party, who certifies to the county
chairman the vote or in case of state
officers to the state chairman. The
final declaration as to result is by the
party convention.
In the Peterson bill the election board
declares results as to township offices,
the board of supervisors canvass on the
Monday following and declare as to
county offices, and the state executive
council canvasses as to state and dis
lrlcl OFFICES. III CiGCtioAS lhC
city council canyasses. The matter.
does not go to the party convention in
any case.
In both bills there is provision for
the selection of precinct committeeman
at the primary election.
Party conventions are provided for
in each bill; in the Crossley bill coun-
ty, district and state conventions are
compulsory while in the Peterson bill
only state conventions. and those only
when demanded by the party COM
mittee.
Crossley requires state convention
Of each party to be held between the
second and third Thursdays following
the primary, exact time and place to
be determined by the party commit
tees. Congressional conventions shall
be held. between the first and second
tuesdays after the primary and shall