The San Francisco call., 1908-12-19

which the laws of this state have been
simplified and codifed.
Senator George W. Cartwright of
Fresno, author and successful advocate
OF CaIifornia's only antitrust enact
ment, known as the Cartwright law.
Hon. T. S. Stratton of Oakland, col
lector of United States customs at the
port of San Francisco, who. as a mem
ber OF the state senate, was a pioneer
leader in the cause of primary election
reforms and the author of the Stratton
law which was the first great step to-
ward the legaliZed primary system now
employed in the principal communities
Of California.
The following synopsis includes all
the general provisions of the bill in
skeleton form:
1. A primary election within the
meaning Of the proposed act is defined
as a nominating election.
2. All elective public Offices with
designated exceptions) are brought
within the provisions of the bill.
Those designated exceptions are in
the cases of special elections to fill
vacancies; party candidates for presi-
Dental electors; delegates to national
party nominating conventions; munich
pal officers in municipalities whose
charters especially provide methods for
nominating such officers; officers of ir-
rigation, reclamation and school dis
tricts. The bill does not in any wise
restrict the right of bodies OF electors
to nominate by petition. as provided by
existing law.
3. The bill provides for an advisory
vote within the several parties on par
tisan candidates for United States SEN
afo fx,< to IexJ he
primary acts of wisconsin. Illinois,
Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska. Washington
and other direct primary states The
provisions touching the nomination of
candidates for the United States senate
are wholly unlike the provisions of
the oregon law. which reach beyond
the primary election. and are. in fact,
general election provisions. A feature
of the provision for an advisory vote
on United States senator which may be
of great advantage to the partisan
voter, as we'll as to the candidate for
Legislative Office is that optional pro-
vision which will permit the candidate
for legislative Office to state. If he
chooses so TO do, that he will be bound
by his own party vote in the matter
of selecting a candidate for the United
States senate. or that he Will consider
such party vote as a recommendation
merely.
This feature, besides being conso-
nant with a majority Of the direct pri-
mary acts in the several states is ex-
actly consonant with the platform
declarations of the great political par.
ties of California and is in entire har-
nony with both the spirit and the
letter of the constitution Of the United
States.
4. Primary elections for the selection
or candidates to be voted for at any
general or state election are to be
held on the first Tuesday in September
Any other primary elections are to be
held on Tuesday three weeks next pre-
ceding the election for which such pri-
maries are held.
,. The duty of giving notice of pri-
mary elections preceding general or
state elections is laid upon the secre-
'tary OF state in the same manner that
he is now charged with the duty of
giving notice of general elections. No
tice of local or municipal primary cleo
tlons is charge upon the officials now
charged by law with giving notice of
elections in such political subdivisions
9. Separate Official ballots are to be
furnished for each political party These
ballots are to be printed on white pa
per as provided by existing law for
general election ballots.
. Any qualified elector may have his
name placed on the official ballot of
his party as a candidate for the nomi-
ation Of such party for any designated
oH1ce to which he may be eligible upon
the presentation to the proper officer
OF petition or nominating paper
signed in his behalf by a small speci-
ned number of the qualified electors
of his party.
fhe petition prescribed is the petition
defined and provided for by existing