The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-12-05
answers INQUIRIES
J. W.. PARMLEY EXPLAINS WORK
lNGS OF NEW PRIMARY
ELECTION LAW.
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
From tbs Capitol City, the Various
State institutions and From
Many Different Parts Of
the Sunshine State.

lpswich.-Many inquiries have been
coming to the chairman Of the Re-
publican state central committee, j.
w. Parmley, in regard to the work
ings of the primary law and in order
10 answer some of these questions
and TO perhaps simplify the procedure
has issued the following letter:
MY attention has been called to
two instances where electors have is
sured a joint call for the December
mass meeting of the majority and
minority a%filiants; and the question
is asked as to the legal status of such
call and such meeting. An assembly
sO-called and held has no legal stand
ing under the primary law. The law
contemplates separate calls and sep
arate meetings. Committeeman Sc
lected by such combined %affiliants
have no more standing in proposal
committee meetings than the "lnde-
pendent" or Progressive or mo Par.
ty" elector will have in the primary.
One county writes that it is pro-
posed to dispense with the December
mass meeting. This would be fatal
to open organization so far as giving
the party members representation, in
the initiatory steps, in makeup of the
factional ticket. If once passed and
no action taken, there is no way to
obtain representation to promulgate a
party platform. It would also throw
the primary election back again into
a mere personal scramble for the of.
fees in the Independent column.
In brief the steps are as follows:
Prior to December 2, 1913, publish
twice in a weekly county seat news
paper a separate call for mass meet
ing December 2, 1913, at 2 p. m, for
minority faction or majority faction;
each call to be signed by not less
than three electors affiliated with
such faction. The duties of such mass
meeting are to elect one precinct COM
mitteeman from each precinct in the
county for the county proposal COM
mittee of the respective faction. Sec
sond: Elect one state committeeman
ond: Elect one state committeeman
meeting at Pierre, January 5, 1914,
at 10 a. m.
January 5, 1914, at 10 a. M, at
the capitol, state proposal committees
meet-those present constitute a quo
rum and vote by unit representation.
Promulgate platform and from the
same adopt summary OF principles for
ballot limited to sixteen words. Pro-
pose candidates for United States SEN
party state chairman, state officers.
When this duty is performed such
committee ceases to exist except to
fill vacancies.
January It'll at the court house III
each county the county proposal com
mittees meet. adopt platform and Sc
lect motto OF eight words or less and
propose candidates for county and
legislative offices, state committeeman
and state proposal committeeman.
January 10 at l D. m, in legis.
lative districts larger than a county
county proposal committeeman meet
at county seat of county casting larg.
est vote at preceding election and
propose candidates for said legislative
district.
January IL at II a. m. county pro
posal committees may meet at county
seat Of county casting largest vote
at preceding election in each judicial
district and propose candidates for
circuit Judge. This, however, is en-
tirely optional as all candidates for
judges are required to file by petition.
Circuit committee proposals of judges
merely amounts to an endorsement o.
the candidates previously filed by petit
ton.
Primary election is held on fourth
Tuesday in March, 1914, the same be.
ing March "a, 1914, between s o'clock
in the forenoon and 5 o'clock in the
afternoon.