Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-08-18
Statement Of The States Attorney,
some OF THE PRINCIPAL Provisions OF THE
LAW GOVERNING PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

nineteen hundred and ten, Chapter TAI of
the Acts OF 1910 governing and regulating
Primary Elections, and there was passed
at the Session of said General Assembly,
in nineteen hundred and eight, Chap
ter 1872 of the Acts of 1908, known as the
Corrupt Practices Act" the same apply
ing to this county as well as other sections
Of the State. These laws contain strict
and sweeping provisions against all forms
OF corruption and violation. deem it ap-
propriate before the Primary Election of
the political parties to call the attention of
all of the people of all political parties to
these laws and the severe punishment
provided for their infraction. | am of the
opinion that informers are entitled to one
half of any fines that may be imposed for
violation of these laws. These laws meet
l0ng-felt need and the observance and
the enforcement of the same will add to
the tone and health of the political condi-
tons. This office will do all it can to
strictly enforce these laws.
Section III of said Chapter 1922 applies
to Primary as well as General Elections
and provides as follows: The following
persons shall be guilty of corrupt practices
and shall be punished in accordance with
the provisions of this Act Every person
who shall, directly or indirectly, by himself
or by another, give or offer or promise to
any person any money, gift advantage,
preferment, entertainment aid, emolument
OF any valuable thing whatever, for the
purpose of inducing or procuring any per-
son to vote, or refrain from voting, for or
against any person. or for or against any
measure or proposition at any election or
primary election or political convention or
session of the General Assembly of Mary
land or either House thereof. Every per-
son who shall, directly or indirectly, receive,
accept, request or solicit from any person.
candidate, committee, association, organi-
cation or corporation. any money, gift, ad-
vantage, preferment, aid emolument, or
any valuable thing whatsoever, for the
purpose of inducing or procuring any per-
son to vote, or refrain from voting, for or
against any person, or for or against any
measure or proposition at any election
or primary election or political conven-
ton. Every person who, in cOnsidera-
ton of any money, gift, advantage, prefer
ment, aid, emolument, or any valuable
thing whatsoever, paid, received, accepted
or promised to the advantage of himself
or any other person, shall vote, or refrain
from voting for or against any person, or
for or against any measure at any such
election, caucus or primary election or po-
litical convention Every person who shall,
directly or indirectly pay, give, contribute
or promise any money or other valuable
thing, to defray. or towards defraying the
costs or expenses Of any campaign or cleo
ton, to any person, committee, company,
club, organization or association, other
than to a treasurer or political agent
h -.
apply to dues regularly paid for member
ship in any Incorporated political club il
all money expended by such club for or in
connection with the costs or expenses of
any campaign or election shall be paid out
by it only through a treasurer or political
agent as provided in this Act, or to any
expenses for postage, telegrams, telephOn-
ing, stationery, printing, expressage or
travelling and board incurred by any can
didate for Office or for nomination thereto
so far as they are permitted by this Act
Every person who shall, directly or indi-
rectly by himself or through another per-
son, make payment, or promise of pay
ment, TO treasurer or political agent in
any other name than his own and every
treasurer or political agent who shall
knowingly receive payment, or promise
the same to be entered in his accounts in
any other name than that of the person
by whom such payment or promise of
payment is made. Every person who be-
ing an employer. pays his employees the
salary or wages due in pay envelopes, "
upon which there is written or printed OF
in which there is enclosed any political
motto. device or argument containing
threats, express or implied, intended OF
calculated to influence the political opin-
ions or actions OF such employees, OF within
ninety days of an election or primary cleo
ton puts, or otherwise exhibits in the
establishment or place where his employees
are engaged in labor. any handful or plac-
ard containing any threat. notice or infOr-
nation that If any particular ticket or
candidate is elected. or defeated, work in
his place. or establishment. will cease, in
whole or in part. his establishment be
closed up, or the wages of his employees
reduced, or other threats, express or i'm
piled, intended or calculated to influence
the political opinions or actions of his EN-
ployes. Every person who, before, during,
or after an election or primary election by
himself or by any other person. either di-
rectly or indirectly. gives or provides, or
pays, wholly or in part, the expenses of
giving or providing any meat. drink enter
tainment or provisions to or for any per-
son for the purpose of influencing that per
son, or any other person. to give or refrain
from giving his vote at the election, or
primary election, or to influence his vote
in any other way therein, or on account Of
his having voted. or RETAINED from voting.
or being about to vote or refrain from vOt-
ing and every electOr who accepts the
same, or any of the same. for any of the
purposes aforesaid Every person who
shall be guilty of any corrupt practice as
aforesaid shall be fined not less than three
hundred dollars, nor more than one thous-
and dollars, or be imprisoned for not more
than one year. or both, and shall be ineli-
gible to any public office. or public EN-
ployment, for the period Of -four years from
and after the time Of the commission of
such oflense.
Section 172 of said Chapter 1922 applies to
primary and general elections and provides
against all corporations giving, contribu-
ting, furnishing, lending or providing any
money or anything else to any political
party or candidate for public Office or for
nomination thereto or to any political COM
mittee, treasurer or political agent 10 in
fiuence or promote the success or defeat
of any candidate. political party or any
measure or proposition submitted to vote,
or for any political purpose. The presi-
dent, the several directors and every other
officer of any corporation which shall vio-
late any of the provisions Of this Section.
and the president or director. or any other
officer, or agent Of any corporation who
shall personally violate any Of the provis-
ions Of this Section. shall be guilty Of a
misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a
fine Of not more than five thousand dollars
for each Offense. and imprisonment for not
more than three years in Jail or peniten-
itentiary. This section applies TO primary
elections as well as general elections.
Section 1907 Of said Chapter TAI applies
to primary elections and provides against
bringing whiskey or other spurious drinks
in the polling room on day Of election.
Penalty not less than ten dollars nor more
than one hundred dollars. This Section
also provides against selling, bartering,
giving or disposing of any spirituous or
fermented liquors. ale or beer. or intoxica-
ting drinks Of any kind on the day Of any
primary election. Penalty not less than
fifty dollars nor more than one hundred