The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1910-06-11
Democratic Pledges Fulfilled

~ HE decision of our supreme court rendered yesterday at Carson
City sustaining the constitutionalty of the Pyne direct primary
L law was notification to the people of this state that the last OF
The pledges made by the Democratic party at their convention hedi IN
Tonopah two years ago had been kept; and that the party ehoorseo
all reform measures and laws which place the political power OF the
state where it belongs-in the hands of the individual voters o. 'he
state; and that the era of nominating conventions confronted ny NeS'
ed interests which dictated the nominations and named me nominees
of the various political parties has come to an end IN TINS stae
1t is not claimed that the direct primary law is a panacea fr all
political ills, but it has been proven that the law gives the voters Oh
all political parties the right to say who shall be the nominees OF
that party for any elective office; and while the law can be improved
upon by amendment to be hereafter enacted, its principles are right
and enactment of such a law is "a distinct gain for the people especial
" in these times when the tendency, both in political and commercial
life. is to centralze power in the hands of a few. As the people
of this state would not go back to the old ballot law under when
elections were held before the enactment of the Australian ballot sys
tenn where each voter could be handed his ticket already made out ana
compelled to place that ticket in the ballot box a S an expression OF his
viii, so the people of this state after they have tried nominating by
the direct primary law and realize the beneficial results to be obtained
from such a law will not permit its repeal and it will remain INDEFINITE
" upon our statute books; and it is a subject for congratulations that
we have in our supreme court, being the court OF last resort upon
whose decisions rest the security of person and property, a judiciary
fearless, free and independent who interpret the law without fear or
favor.
The salient features of the primary law are IS follows: The
primary election shall be held on the first Tuesday in September Tor
the nominations of all candidates to be voted for at the November
election. Sixty days preceding the September election the secretary
of state shall transmit to each county clerk a notice In writing desls
mating the Offices for which candidates are to be nominated at such
primary election. The name of no candidate shall be printed IN the
official ballot, unless at least thirty days prior to the primary election
a nomination paper shall have been filed IN ms pehaf III accor'aee
with the provisions of the act
Each nominee requires three per cent of the voters of the party
Of said candidates for any office. The vote of the party is computed
from the highest vote for presidential elector in the state, county or
city at the last preceding presidential election. If the party had no
presidential elector, then three per cent of the party's candidate who
poned the highest vote on the state ticket. A filing fee OF 800 shall
be paid for a state office, and $40 for a county office or for an assem-
kvman OF senator to be paid when the nomination papers are hleo.
The ballots shall be provided by the state and each party candl
dates shall be upon different colored paper. All voters re required
to be registered, the registration OF the last election belng ahi
all new voters who are qualified to vote shall have their names placed
upon the register by the registry agent before the primary election
A person desiring to vote at the primary election, gives his name ana
states what party ticket he intends to vote. He is given the official
ballot of that party and he retires to the booth and marks his ballot
with n rubber stamp the same as is done at the general election. The
votes re canvassed in the usual manner and the person receiving the
highest vote at the primary election shall be placed upon the official
ballot to be voted for at the general election IN November. Nomlna
tons can still be made by petition the same a S at present
Each precinct is entitled to nominate a county committeeman
these nominations ae made by writing the name of the voters
choice for committee man in the blank space left for that purpose.
These committee men afterwards meet and form the County Central
committee, who adopt the county platform. The state party platform
is adopted by a meeting of all of the state candidates who have been
out the state, and all hod-over senator's meeting in Carson City on
the fourth Tuesday in September. They shall make up the state plat
form and also elect a state central committee to consist of three mem
hers from each county who shall have charge of the state campaign
All nomnees for the assembly shall file with their nomination.
papers "A statement that they will vote for the candidate for the
United States senator who has received the highest number OF the
people S votes for that position at the general election. If the candi
date is unwilling to sign that statement, he must sign the following
statement: That he considers the vote of the people for United
States senator as nothing more than a recommendation. which he shall
be at liberty to disregard. i