Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-01
Attorney General Byers to Give
an Opinion Soon on Some of
Doubtful Points ofNew Law
EXPENDITURES IN QUESTION
Use Of Primary Law in Cities Where
Partisan Politics Does Not Enter
Also Questioned Form of Ballot
and Other Disputed Points to Be
Ruled Upon.
to T,mes-Republlcan-

III DeS MONIES, Jan. l.---AlloTHeJ 5sh-
eral Byers will shortly give an opinion
on the main features Of the primary
election law. His office has had 50
many requests for opinions on the IN
depreciation Of the law that he pro-
poses now to give out an opinion that
will cover all this points.
Three points that have been brought
in the requests for opinions are OF
particular Importance. One Of these Is
concerned with section 32 Of the pri-
| mary election law, the section that
covers candidates expenditures. An
other Is concerned with section 30,
which relates to the use Of the primary
in municipal elections. The third the
sworn statements on the petitions and
to the circulation OF these petitions.
Still another that will be covered by
| the attorney generals opinion relates
to the form Of the ballot.
| Recently MIR. Byers was asked as to
how political party could use the
| primary election in a municipal CAM
| paign where the custom had been Tor
years for a "citizens" ticket or ''peo-
pies ticket to be used The law pro-
vides that party must poll certain
per cent of the votes in order to have
the use OF the primary. The first re-
quest for this information came from
| Clinton, where the democrats have not
put. in ticket but where 1t is under
stood they wish to put in ticket the
coming city election. The position was
| taken by the attorney generals office
that IL the party polled the request
per cent the last time 1t did have d
ticket In the field 1t could go on the
primary. Since then another request
for the same information has come
from Dubuque. where the republicans
have not had ticket in the field for
some years.
/ The state teachers association will
go on record at the very ontset of its
session this evening by indorsing q
resolution in favor of the state teach
ers certificate law. 1t is probable that
| the friends OF the law will have Hon.
/ Henry Sabin present this resolution to
/ the convention body. 1t is expected
that his prestige as an educator IN
/ Iowa for many years will carry much
| weight in influencing itsaadoption.
1 This will be done to ward off any
attack that might spring up later from
the enemies OF the law for a covert
4 political purpose. While the assoc!a-
4 ton Is In favor Of few minor changes
In the law, 1t would prefer to have
1 the law placed in the hands OF the
/ educational commission, recently ap-
4 pointed by Governor Cummins, for
i modification. The association is loathe'
| to have any report go out this year
1 that it Is in any way opposed to the
law.
4 There was rumor circulated yes
terday in the lobby Of the Slavery that
| there was combined effort against
4 the law which was to break out in the
4 report of the educational council.
i Friends OF President Lark are con-
4 tending that he is In favor of the
4 certificate law, while, on the other
hand, his opponents are saying that
1 he expects a minority report from his
committee which he is claimed to have
chosen with that purpose in view, that
4 the law might be attacked on the floor
| OF the convention. The convention
4 will be asked to thwart such a plan
i il it is brought up for debate In con-
vention on the plea that the assocla-
ton would be made to fight Supt. J.
r. Riggs and not the law for political
4 advancement Of certain state superin-
I tendent candidates
Il Political rumors Of the convention
were rife Yesterday in the Slavery lobby
4 and fairly buzzed around the super
intendency and the probable outcome
of the Ida Grove and Sioux City incl
dent. Ethics has given way to atl1let-
les and every man Is buttonholed not
so much on his position in school af-
fairs in general. but his personal feel
ling in the Ida Grove athletic fight.
| The presence Of several prominent
citizens from Ida Grove in the hote
lobby has added zest to the athletic
political situation.
The advance guard Of the teachers
began arriving yesterday morning, and
/ by evening the hotels We're comfort
ably filled Many more are expected II
this morning and by night it is ex'
pected that the convention will have
assembled