Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-02-11

tricts and for the election of precinct,
senatorial and state central committee
men by all political parties; provided,
this act shall not apply to the nomina-
ton of candidates for electors of presi-
dent and vice president of the United
States and trustees of the University
of Illinois. nor to township and school
elections
In other words all of the elective
offices excepting only the most impor-
tant are included in the scope of the
reform bill. 1t is not possible that the
exceptions viii be permanent. When
the whole nation thinks Illinois" on
the subject of elections, no office in
the gift of the people will be SO
sacred" that it will be considered I'M
patriotic or immoral to include it in
the program of progress. To except
the highest offices from the benevolent
operation of measures devised in the
interests of pure patriotism is sugges-
tive of the prayer of the little son who
petitioned heaven to send the gift of
everyone but his papa. When he was
asked why he did not include the head
of the family he said that he was afraid
his father would wallop him if he ac-
cused him even theoretically of being
bad
The Illinois primary bill covers every
aspect of the case, and with the ex-
ceptions that we have noted every i'm
portant elective office. The name of
no candidate for office in the scope of
the bill shall be placed on the official
ballot for the general election in No
vember, 1908. unless the candidate shall
have been nominated under the pro-
visions of the act.
Any candidate for United States SEN
ator may have his name printed on
the primary ballot of his party by fill
ing with the secretary of state thirty
days before the primaries a petition
signed by not fewer than 5000 primary
electors nor more than 5000 members of
his party. The vote on United States
senators shall be had "for the sole pur-
pose of ascertaining the sentiment of
the voters of the respective parties"
This seems to be a half-hearted strain
in an otherwise cheerful lilt Again we
ask, why disclaim a final purpose of
direct election when we approach the
sacred" higher offices? All offices are
alike American.
A form is to be provided for petitions
which shall consist of sheets of uniform
size. An affidavit will go with each
sheet. Anyone who swears falsely re-
garding the names is to be deemed
guilty of perjury. Primary ballots of
all parties are to be uniform in size,
quality and texture, but the primary
ballot of no two parties shall be of the
same color. At the head of the ballot
words shall be printed indicating the
party. The arrangement of offices on
the ballot is specified in the bill. Speci-
men ballots shall be issued not less
than five days before the primaries.
No person shall vote at a primary I'M
less he declares his party affiliation.
In cases where registration is required
for the regular election only registered
voters may vote at the primary pre-
ceding such election. No person shall
vote at the primary who shall have
any party with which he is not affiliat-
ed, or the petition of an independent
candidate, or If he shall have voted
at primary of another political party
within a period OF two years next
preceding such primary. The officers
who by law canvass the returns of
regular elections shall canvass the
returns. At the end of the
canvass the boards shall make pro-
clamation of the results of the primary
and shall execute a certificate which
unless contests are filed shall be filed
within ten days in he office of the
secretary of state or of the clerk, coun-
ty, 'city, village or town, whose duty
it is to print the official ballot for the
nominations for which have
been made at the primary.
Within one day after these certifi-
Gates have been filed by the canvassers
the secretary of state or the proper
clerk, as the case may be, shall issue
a certificate of nomination to each of
the candidates so proclaimed nominat-
ed, except United States senator"
Certificates of election shall be issued
to the persons proclaimed to be elected
members of the various party COM
mittees.
With the exceptions that we have
noted the primary bill seems to be
comprehensive measure, devised, to the
extent of it's provisions, and as far as
they go. in the interests of better rep
government. And-three-
quarters of loaf is surely better than
no bread.
Dinizulu, son of the great Cetewayo,
has been arrested in Zululand on the
charge of disorderly conduct. He says
H,s.~. LII - 1x.9.,