Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-02-10
DIRECT PRIMARY
LAW IS FRAMED
Representative {. C. Ashton Will
Ask Permission to Introduce
Comprehensive Act.
FOLLOWS OTHER STATUTES
Provides for Direct Vote on Candl-
dates, Doing Away With Primaries
And Conventions ~ Now Held.

one Of the important measures to
come before the present legislature
| is the direct primary law. which will
| be introduced in the house by Repre-
sentative +. G Ashton. Mr. Ashton
has been working on the law for some
time. but was unable TO get Il COM
| pleted in time to introduce the mea-
sure before the expiration of the 30
days in which the introduction OF bills
is permitted without special consent
Of the majority OF the house. That
such consent will not he difficult to
obtain goes without saying as courtes-
les will be exchanged between menu
bers until toward the end OF the
session.
Mr.. Ashtons direct primary bill is
laws in existence in the country on
that subject. The bill in brief is as
follows:
An act relating to primary elections,
providing for the organization and
government OF political parties, re-
pealing chapter 3. Complied Laws Of
Utah. 1907. and all other acts and
parts OF acts in conflict herewith. and
prescribing and fixing penalties for the
violation thereof.
Section I. Definitions. Unless incon-
sistent with the context, words and
phrases used I'm this act shall be de-
hled and continued as follows.
% The word primary" the pri-
mary election provided for in this
act
90 The word election" a general
election, as distinguished from
primary election and applying 10
both city and general elections.
go The word precinct an cleo
ton district established by law, with
In which all qualified electors vote at
one polling place.
as The word district" any poll
teal subdivision OF the state consist
ing OF more than one county; provid-
ed that this term shall also extend
and apply 20 the following named
political divisions comprising one
county. more or less, state senatorial
district. state representative district.
precinct district. and state judicial
district
(5) TheN words Getty election" an
election held for the election OF Of
ncers ln city OF 5000 population or
more.
candidates for elective offices shall be
nominated by
rs A primary held in accordance
with this act
(2) Independent nomination pm
pers signed and filed as provided by
existing statutes
90 Party candidates for the office
OF United States senator shall be nom
mated 90 the manner provided herein.
This act shall not apply To special
elections 90 fll vacancies. nor 90 am
nuaI or special school district meet
Ings for the election OF school dis
trict Officers. nor 20 city elections
where the population rs less than o.
600
TIME or HOLDING PRIMARY.
Sec. 3. The primary shall be held on
tho last Tuesday in August in 1910,
and bienuiauy thereafter for the
nomination of am candidates Co be
voted Tor at the next ensuing Novem-
Der election. and on the las Tuesday
of August 1903. and blennially there
after Boo AN cities having 5000 or
more population. for am candidates
to be- voted for al the next ensuing
city election.
Sec Az least 20 days before the
time of holding the primary the secrc-
tary of state shall prepare and trans
mil 10 each county clerk a notice Boo
writing designating the Offices for
which candidates are to be nomipatod
as such primary
ID Upon receipt OF such notice each
county clerk shall forthwith pHhll ID
so much thereof as may be- applicable
90 his county once each week f0r three
consecutive weeks. in the official C0uu-
ty paper
W The sheriff of each county shall
Immediately after the publication of
such notice cause "a notice OF such
primary to he posted in three public
places iu each precinct in bis county,
whore the primary will be- held in each
precinct therein. together with the o.
nces flr which candidates are 10 be
nominated
40 Each city clerk shall IN each
year az least f5 days before tho time
of holding the primary. publish On
regular daily paper once in each week
FOR three consecutive weeks. a notice
designating the cify offices for which
candidates are 90 bo nominated az such
primary ana shall also post such