Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1912-09-27
GRANGE PRIMARY.
A New Idea to Be Tried Out In
Michigan This Year.

subordinate oranges on Inolce OF
Certain State Grange officers to Be
Elected at the December Meeting Of
This Year.
The Michigan state grange at its
last session adopted the preamble of
the committee on state grange by
laws and authorized the executive
committee to perfect a plan for the
election of state master, secretary and
| members of the executive committee
by the individual votes Of Patrons of
the state The preamble adopted by
| the state grange last December ana
amendments as perfected by the exec
utive committee at Jackson, May 3,
| 1912, are here quoted:
Whereas, The state grange firmly be-
ileves In the policy OF primary elections In
| fraternal as well as public AFFAIRS; and,
Whereas, Much valuable time could be
saved for matters of grange pol.ty at the
same meeting II the election OF officers
was disposed OF before the meeting and
sharp rivalry of factions would be elimi-
mated; and,
|
Of the great army OF grangers would be
| better satisfied II allowed individual Votes'
| therefore, be 1t
| Resolved, That section 2. article 7. OF
| state grange bylaws be amended as here
| matter provided
| Section 2 The regular election OF off,
| GERS except as hereinafter provided shall
take place at the annual meeting OF alter
nate years. the next regular election be-
| ing at the annual meeting of 1872 An ad-
| visory election OF master, secretary ana
four members of the executive committee
shall be held in the subordinate oranges
| of the state prior TO the meeting OF the
state grange in regular election years be-
| ginning with 1912 and for three members
OF the executive committee in alternate
years beginning with 1913 under the fol-
| lowing regulations:
(a) In the nomination and advisory cleo
ton Of officers under this plan only such
| oranges shall take part as are In good
standing in the state grange and entitled
to send delegates to the county grange
convention for the election OF representa-
tives to the state grange. All Individual
members Of subordinate oranges who are
in good standing under grange law shall
be voters at said advisory electon-name-
ly those in possession OF or entitled 10
receive the annual word.
% Nominations shall be made by reso-
lutions faVoring candidates adopted with
out debate at the last regular meeting or
the subordinate oranges in September,
and the resolution Of ten oranges shall be
necessary to have names placed on the
official ballot. Any fourth degree mem
Der in good standing shall be eligible to
such nomination. The said nominating
resolutions as passed by the different sub
ordinate oranges shall be signed by the
master and secretary thereof and sent
under the seal of the subordinate grange
to the secretary of the state grange not
later than oct. l. Said secretary of state
grange after making a record of the same
shall turn said resolutions over to sub
committee of three members of the ex-
ecutive committee Of state grange. one of
whom shall be the secretary. The said
subcommittee OF the executive committed
shall meet on or before the tenth day of
October and receive all such resolutions
for nominations. When sufficient resolu-
lions to nominate have been received by
said subcommittee the secretary of the
state grange shall inform the nominees
who may have the privilege OF withdraw
ing from any all offices by filing their
Withdrawals with the secretary prior to
the 10Th day of October. The executive
committee shall have printed a ballot the
head of which shall read state Grange
Advisory Election Ballot" Upon such
= ballot the offices which are to be filled
shall be designated in their proper order
flee shall be arranged hereunder in alpha
betcal order. No name shall appear or
, such ballot for more than one office. Al
the right of each name there shall be a
r space indicated in which the voter shall
place an X to signify his or her choice
The ballot of any patron marked for more
; than one name for any Office other thar
Y executive committee shall not be coun ed
for that office, and there shall not be more
places marked for members of the execu
= tive committee than are to be filled at the
"a election
(c) Before Nov. l the secretary of the
e state grange shall mail to the secretary
e of each subordinate grange in good stand
ing twice as many ballots as the number
of paid up members as shown by the re-
port for the quarter ending June 80. A
H. the first regular meeting in Novembe
each subordinate grange shall hold The
l advisory election for the above named
e state officers. The ballot box shall b'
> opened at the regular hour OF meeting
and shall be kept open for two hours
e The master shall appoint two tellers, who
with the steward. shall conduct the cleo
ton. keep two records of the names o
those voting count the ballots. make tive
- copies of the returns and declare the re
e suit at the time and place of voting
! The tellers steward, master and secretar.
shall sign the records and returns, anC
e the seal of the grange shall be PLACED
o. upon them. provided that the absence o
= the seal shall not invalidate the election
< The secretary shall file one complete Sc
r. of the records returns and ballots cas-
Il and shall forward the other copy OF tn
" returns to the secretary of the stat
lr grange on the day following such election
T. I'D The executive committee shall ap
. point two of its members. who, witt
~ the secretary of the state grange shall
lie meet not later than Dec. 3. canvass tn
II returns and declare the result of the ad
Va visory election. The secretary shall sprea
- q copy of their report on the records o
y the executive committee and shall reai
= such report to the state grange on tn
ar first day of the annual session immediate
~ ly following the reading Of the master
s. annual address. and the names of the per
ar sons receiving the highest number of vote
as for each office shall be placed upon tn
i'm official ballot for ratification by the stat
M grange