The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-04-29

basis of representation is one delegate
for each 1926 votes or major fraction
of that number, cast for w. j. Bryan
in 1908, and two delegates at large
from each county. ~
Each party convention in Minneso-
ia this year will choose six delegates
at large. The last census gave Min
nesota an extra congressman, and the
state not yet having been reappor
toned, the congressman will be elect
ed at large. Consequently the two
delegates allotted for the extra con-
gresham will be chosen at large. ~
The state committee fixes the dates
for the congressional and county con
ventions. Separate congressional
conventions to choose the district Il IL
! egates from each district are held by
the Republican party in Minnesota.
They will be held May Is. The Ninth
district convention will be at Thief
River Falls. The Democratic party
in Minnesota elects no separate dele
gates to district conventions, the de-
egates from each district to the state
convention holding a convention in
the state convention city, on the day
the state meeting is held.
County Conventions.
The county committees issue the
call for the county conventions and
precinct caucuses. Republican COM
ty conventions in Minnesota will be
held May 13 and precinct caucuses in
Beltrami county May Z. Democratic
county conventions will be held Nay
20 and precinct caucuses May rs.
The procedure at precinct caucus
es is prescribed by statute in Mime
sofa. The caucuses are held at the
regular polling places. The precinct
chairman or any voter of the party
may call the caucus to order ard
chairman, secretary and two judges
OF election are chosen by the assem-
bled voters. The polls may be open
between 2 and 8 p. M and must be
open for at least one hour. Voters
who have been affiliated with the par
ty by voting at the last general cleo
ton may vote. Any voter may be
challenged and must take an oath ad-
ministered by the chairman if he
should be challenged.
Voting at the caucuses is by bal
lot, each precinct electing delegates
to the county convention. The coun-
ty convention elects delegates to the
state and district conventions.
The state convention, in addition
to electing delegates to the nationa;
convention, dominates the presiGen-
tial electors.
After the general election the pres
ldential electors meet on an appoint
ed day, cast their ballots for presi-
dent and vice-president, and send
them sealed to the president at WASH
ington. The president opens the bal-
lots in the presence of the members
of the senate and house and declares
his successor elected.
In case no candidate for the presi-
dency has majority, the members
OF congress may elect the president.
Each state representation must vote
as unit and a majority of all the
states serve to elect. Three candi-
dates must be voted upon if such a
contingency should arise.
If no candidate for the vice-presi-
dency is elected at the election, the
members of the senate, each having a
vote, elect the vice-president, voting
on two. The one having the major
ity is declared elected.
A man to be eligible to the presi-
| dency must be a native born citizen
Of the United States, at least thirty
five years old, and resident within
the United States at least fourteen
years. A child born of representa-
tive American citizens abroad is con-
sidered native born citizen, while
child of foreign parents, residing in
the United States as official represen-
tatives of another nation, is not ma
tive born citizen.
Direct Primaries.
The present system of preliminaries
to elections is undergoing a change
direct primaries on delegates to the
national conventions being in opera.
ton in several states The system
which is still used in Minnesota has
endured since 1882, when the first 30.
litical conventions were held. Three
conventions were held that year in
Baltimore.
! From 1896 to 1900, there were nc
parties and candidates for president
and vice-president were informal. TIE
presidential electors were chosen by
the legislatures of the states.
The first party nominations Were
made in 1900 and were by the repre-
sentatives of the parties in congress
At that time the man receiving ID,
highest vote of the electors was de
ole rod on1 tho MON rooo;r