The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-04-11
EXPLAINS HARPER Or Pres
IDENTIAL PRIMARY LAW
Mr.. StrauS Who Drew Measure Tells
OF It's Operations.

the State, because of the fact that I'M
der it spirited battle is expected to be
waged by both parties for control of
Maryland S delegations to the National
Conventions The act was drawn by
former Acknowledgement Isaac Lobe
| Straus, who also drew four of the five
other election bills passed by the Legis-
| lature. The measure was presented by
Senator Harper, of Queen Anne's coun-
| ty, and is generally known as the Har-
! per law.
Mr.. Straus drew the Presidential Pri-
mary bill as the only practical measure
of the kind that could get through the
General Assembly. Mr.. Straus Satur-
day explained the main provisions and
features of the law under which the
coming Presidential primaries through
out the State, must be held
First, with respect to the manner in
which candidates for the Presidential
nomination must enter the primaries in
this State. The law provides that with
in Is days before the primary election
dav, candidates for the Presidential
nomination of the Democratic or Re-
publican party must file with the Secre-
tary of State of Maryland certificate
of their candidacy in form and sub
stance like the certificate of candidacy
required of candidates for the nomina-
ton for the office of Governor, and at
the same time must make the payment
required of candidates for the nomina-
ton of Governor, which is SO for each
county and legislative district of Balt
more city, being 1910 in ALL
Primary elections this year will be
held on the first Monday in May, which
falls on the 9th. In these, candidates
for the Presidential nomination, or for
the vote Of the MARYLAND delegates in
the National Conventions, run as candi-
dates, not throughout the State at large
as a unit but in each county and each
Legislative district of Baltimore city as
the units.
In each county and in each legislative
district of the city delegates are nomi-
mated and elected to State Convention.
The candidate for the Presidential nomi-
nation who receives the highest number
of votes in the primaries of his party in
any county or legislative district be-
comes entitled to the whole delegation
as unit from such county or Legislative
district in the State Convention.
The certificate of election from each
county and legislative district must in
dictate plainly which candidate for the
Presidential nomination received the
highest number of votes in the party
: primaries and these certificates stand as
the instructions of the county or legisla-
; tive district to the delegation there
from in the State Convention. In &C,
crdance with such instructions the dele
, cation must vote in the State Conven.
ton for the choice Of its county of legis-
lative district as long as in their con,
sclentious judgment there is any posi-
bility of that choice obtaining a MAORI
ty of the votes of the convention anC
as long as that choice it votes for by the
delegates Of nine counties, each legisla
tive district Of Baltimore being taker
as the equivalent Of county.
After taking such number Of ballot.
in the State Convention as may be nee
essary to ascertain the majority for any
i one candidate for President, the chair
man Of the convention is required tC
announce that the majority is the choice
of the voters for candidate for Pres
dent.
The State Convention selects dele
!, gates to the National Convention anC
o these will be bound to vote as g init fol
/; the candidate for President so selected
= as the choice Of Maryland. They shall
u continue to vote for that person as Ions
as in their conscientious Judgment there
is any possibility of his being nominated
Delegates from the counties and legis
latiVe districts of the State Convention
must be elected by direct vote of eacl
of the political parties. Names of can
! didates for the nomination for Presi
dent are to be arranged and the ballot
shall be prepared, marked and cast q
in a gubernatorial primary, except tina
there is no preferential voting as to tn,
first and second choice
If no person files certificate of can
didacy for President the State Conven
! ton may instruct the delegates to tn
/ National Convention for such candidate
as it may see fit or may send an unin
structed delegation. 1t is also provide
that the ballots must bear the line
''FOr an uninstructed delegation" an
in the square opposite this voter ma
make his mark if he wishes the Stat
delegation to go to the National Conven
ton without instructions. 1t nigh
happen that only one candidate 70
President would enter the primary an