The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1912-02-22
CHANGES in
PRIMARY LAW
G. A. Hastings Points Out
Some Of the Vital Points
For Consideration.

self to the primary law and
recent changes made, as follows :
At the last regular session of
the legislature (not the specially
virtually a new primary law was
enacted. 1t had been proven that
our first law was not a bowling
success, and whether any direct
primary law will be a success is
still debatable question with a
great many people, for under any
and all events the execution of
the laws and the faithful perform
ance of the duties required of an
officer depend upon himself and
not the method by which he was
elected, and upon the officer de-
ponds whether the laws are howl
ing successes, or dismal failures.
for the intent of almost every
law placed on the statute books
is to be the benefit Of the people.
but not always successfully so,
however.
One of the principal changes
made in the primary law is the
date of holding the primaries,
which this year is the last Tues
day of July, almost month earl
Ter than under the old law.
Another one of the principal
changes is in the form of the bal
lot.
Last year all names were enter
ed on the ballot in alphabetical
order, and this was estimated to
be worth, by various states which
had tried the plan, from ten to
twenty-five per cent of the vote
to the person whose name head
ed the list for any particular of
flee. The new law provides that
the position of the names shall be
changed in each office division as
many times as there are candi-
dates, in the office division, or
groups in which there are most
names. The intent is that the
printer shall print, say in print
ing 10000 ballots, with five can
didates as the greatest number Of
candidates for any office, 1000
according to the list handed him
by the county auditor; then drop
name No. l and place it at the
the bottom of the list; then
this would bring name No. 2 in
first place on the second 1000
ballots; then drop again, bring
ing name No. 3 of the first 1000
into the first position on the third
1000 issued; and so on until each
candidate holds all five places.
Then after the ballots are printed
and before they are cut they must
be placed in separate piles; then
take one from each pile; the in
tent being that every other bal
lot shall have the names in diff
ferent position. Then they must
De placed in blocks of 100 bal
lots each and changed again. This
method would be perfectly fair
TO all candidates, making it ut
lerly lmmaterial what letters of
tne alphabet their names began
with.
Under the old law it was man
datory to vote for the first and
second choice. This year you
may at your option vote for first
and second choice.
Another change-under the old
law fifteen per cent of the first
year salary was permitted for
personal expenses of various can
eidates; this year it is % per cent
lor state office, member of con
gfess, or a United States sena-
,or; 10 per cent if he be can
usaate for district judge, county
ulcers 10 per cent except the
county commissioners and mem
oers OF the legislature, and they
are limited to 800. The law de-
iining what are personal expenS
Is more definite and explicit
ul u, the new law than the old.
me nominees for county offic-
~ IN each county, Is days after
ene primary election, shall elect a
,lounty central committee of not
.ses than one or more than thnee
onee,hoers from each precinct; the
aolll day after the primary the
sounty central committee meet
q. aiu elect a man for member of
.ne state central committee; this
tear we have a platform conven-
non and the county central com
Je on the second Tuesday of
s = shall elect the delegates to
q number equal to three times the
t lumber of the state representa-
ives yves as delegates to the state
PLATFORM =, convention. All polite
al parties must meat in Roisp at {