The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-08-02
PROGRESS|vES vs..
STANDP ALTERS :
Some Reasons Why the
Regulars Seats Were
Contested.

A large number of citizens of We
natchee and the surrounding county,
in commenting on the result of the
contest by the progressives against
the seating of the regulars, suggest
ed that perhaps if the gist Of the
arguments presented to the creden-
(tials committee was published, the
people generally would be much bet
ter satisfied-or could, at least draw
their own conclusions regarding the
decision of the committee. Acting
on the suggestions, the Daily World
presents the following, written by one
ofw the progressives and gives that
side of the case:
The Primary Law.
The law governing the holding Of
elections of the character held by
the regulars on Saturday, July %,
provides that whenever such primary
elections are called by any manag-
| ing committee authorized under the
rules or customs of such voluntary
political association or party to call
such primary elections, such call
shall be made by resolution duly
passed by such managing commit
tee and attested by the chairman
and secretary, and requires that such
resolution shall declare the time and
places of holding such primary cleo
tons and the hours between which
the polls are to be kept open; the
tons required of voters in addition
to those prescribed by law; and the
number of persons to be elected as
such delegates in each polling pre-
cinct, and such other matters as the
managing committee desire to sub
nit; the law further provides that
the resolution shall be published in
some newspaper of general circula-
ton in the city or town where such
primary election is to be held, at
least ten days previous to the time
set for such election.
No Notice Given.
One of the principal objections
raised by the contesting delegation
was that the features of the law re-
garding the notice were not COM
piled with. Of course, it is funda-
mental that when the committee
were claiming protection of the law
for the regularity of their proceed
ings, they had to comply strictly
with all the requirements prescribed
in order to bring themselves within
that protection. The fact that ar
ticles appeared in both the Daily
World and the Republic stating that
the election would be held on July
23rd, does not satisfy the law; nor
will it not be seriously cOntended by
anyone familiar with legal proceed
ure, that the first page articles
referred to by the regulars, even
hint at a compliance with the law.
Quite true it is, however, that the
date of holding the election was
mentioned, as was the object and
the number of delegates to be elect
ed, still the hours between which
the polls we're to be kept open as
we'll as the qualifications of the vot~
ers were not mentioned. Further,
all parties agree that the meeting
of the managing committee, at which
the resolutions fixing the date of
holding the election were passed was
not held until the 18th day of July,
and the front page stories did not
appear until tn following day;
therefore, under no possible circum-
stances could the ten days publica-
ton of the resolution previous to the
time set for such election be given.
So that, even if it be conceded that
the news stories (Which under no
consideration are legal notices. COW
cred the notice, they were lacking in
at least three essential particulars.
The publications of the resolutions
according to the manner prescribed
by law, was jurisdictional; without
a compliance in this regard the man.
aging committee had no jurisdiction
to hold the election.
Qualifications of Voters.
AS above stated, the law provides
that the qualifications of voters at
such primary elections, in addition
to those prescribed by the resolution
of the managing committee, shall
be the same as those at a general
election The committee failed to
state any qualifications, hence only
the qualifications necessary for a
voter to possess to entitle him to
vote, were those required at a gen.
eral election. The Constitution says:
THAT all male persons Of the age
of .twenty-one years or over, poss-
essing the following qualifications
shall be entitled to vote at all cleo
tions: They shall be citizens of the
United States; they shall have lived
in tho state one wear and in the