Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1912-04-30
CALLING FOR SUBMIS.
SION OF REFORM LAWS TO
PEOPLE ARE SUFFICIENT.
NOW Up TO THE PEOPLE
voters of Montana Will Have Oppor.
tunity to Enact Into Law Under
Provisions Of the Initiative Three
Primary Measures and Corrupt
Practice Act-Counties Must Ad-
vertise.

Helena, April 24.-Montana electors
next fall will vote upon the question
OF placing upon the statute books a
direct primary law, corrupt prac-
t1ce act, presidential preference pri-
mary and senatorial act binding leg
lslatOrs to vote in accordance with
the wishes of the people, sufficient
signatures for the submission of these
measures having been obtained.
Governor Norris today issued a
proclamation announcing the filing of
the petitions, and wrote letter to
the boards of commissioners of each
county advising them they must ar
range to have it published once II
week for four weeks at the expense
Of the county
Eight per cent of the vote, scattered
over tWo-fifths of the counties, in ac-
cordance with the initiative provision
OF the constitution Is 5,455. The di-
rect primary petition received $500
signatures, the corrupt practice act
5.563 signatures, the senatorial meas
'ure 5,572 signatures and the presiden-
t1al preference primary 5,531 sigma
lures.
While other petitions were filed, the
counties furnishing the requisite num-
ber of signatures were: Broadwater,
Custer, Dawson, Deer Lodge, Flathead,
Gallatin, Granite, Jefferson, Missoula,
Park, Ravalli, Sanders, Silver Bow and
Yellowstone.
The proclamation of the governor
was as follows:
Whereas, Petitions signed by the
requisite number of voters and pray
ing for the initiative of four certain
measures to be hereinafter more par
ticularN described have been duly and
regularly filed in the office of the Sec
retary of state within the time re-
quired by the provisions of the con-
stituti0n of the state of Montana; and
Whereas, the Governor of the state
is required by law to issue his procla-
nation announcing the filing of such
petitions;
Nov, therefore, l, Edwin l.. Norris,
as governor of the state of Montana,
do hereby proclaim the filing of such
petitions for the submission to the
voters of the state of Montana for
their approval or rejection, at the reg
ular election to be held on the fifth
four following measures
GA law to provide for party nomi-
nations by direct vote
"a law to instruct the members Of
the legislative assembly to vote for
and elect the candidates selected by
the people for United States senator
from Montana
"a law to provide for the express
sion by the people Of the state of Mon
tana of their preference for party can.
didates for president and vice presi-
dent of the United States, the elec-
tion of delegates to presidential con-
ventions and the nomination of presi-
Dental electors by direct vote
GA law to limit candidates election
expenses; to define, prevent and pun
ish corrupt and illegal practices in
and elections; to secure
and protect the purity of the ballot;
to provide for furnishing information
to the electors and to provide the
manner of conducting contests for
and elections in certain
cases.
"In witness whereof, l have here
unto set my hand and caused the great
seal of the state of Montana to be af-
fixed.
Done at Helena, the capital, this,
the twenty-fourth day of April, in the
year of our Lord, one thousand nine
hundred and twelve.
(Signed) EDWIN L. NORRIS.
By the governor. "T. M. SWindle-
hurst, secretary of state"
cNlllT 0n0lluAln III Tllc