Evening journal., 1913-05-24
LAUGH AT
ATTACK ON
PRIMARIES
continued Dom Flrst Page.

Continued from First Page.
Republican First District city Com
mittee, today laughed at the Eastburn
contention.
The law specified that there shall
be but one party to hold a primary
election on the same day for the rea-
son that the Department of Elections
has but one set OF registration books.
said Mr.. Billany. Therefore Il would
be impossible for more than one party
10 hold separate primaries on the
same day. There is nothing in the law
70 prevent parties acting together and
holding joint primaries on one day
As matter OF fact, several years
ago during the factional division in
the Republican party, joint primaries
we're frequently held by the Republi-
can and Union Republicans and no.
bcdy ever questioed the regularity or
validity Of such primaries
The law is very wide, and gives
the various parties much latitude as
to how they shall hold their pri-
maries. There is nothing in the law,
either, TO prohibit parties holding
Joint primaries from fling the ticket
nominated at such primary, as the
separate ticket of each party that
participated in the primary"
Mr.. White Sees Nothing Unusual.
William p. White. State chairman
OF the National Progressive Party,
was not disturbed over the contention
raised by Mr.. Eastburn. I'VE simply
followed a line Of precedent establish
cd years ago" said Mr.. White, "and
believe we proceeded entirely
within the law, as we'll as within po-
litioal custom which heretofore never
has been questioned. or course, one
can understand that the law does not
sanction two parties holding separate
and distinct primaries on the same
day, but the Republican and National
Progresslves held a Joint primary
that brought no conflict within the
law, or the right to use registration
books"
Mr.. Eastburn. in explaining his po-
sition, said I'VE propose to take
this action because the Republican.
National Progressive Party has vio-
lated the provisions OF the primary
election law. and therefore are not
entitled TO participate In the city
election, not having filed any proper
ticket within the time limited for
filing a city ticket The act which
was passed at the recent session OF
the Legislature purporting to be an
act 10 provide for the secrecy and
purity of the ballot, commonly
known as tho Mitchell law, but which
in fact covers the general subjects
of elections. does not in any way af-
feet the law heretofore existing pro-
viding for the holding Of primary
elections in New Castle county, Chap
ter 1893, Volume 90, Laws OF Delaware
This act ia found in the registration
and election laws published by the
secretary of state. at page 105.
This primary election law Is ap-
plicahle not only 10 county and State
elections, but also 10 municipal cleo.
tions in the city OF Wilmington. Sec
tion 2 OF this act provides as follows
NO two political parties, organiza.
uons or associations shall hold theil
primary election on the same day
After the joint committee OF the Re
publican National Progressive part.
had entered into a solemn agreemen
10 have but one ticket in the preesn
compaign. which was TO be elected a
a primary election May II, they no
only required the Department Of Elec
tions TO furnish them with the neces
sary paraphernalia, but they caused tC
be published notices thereof in vii
mington Morning News on May 70, 10
10, is, 16, II, and in THE EVENING
JOURNAL on May ~, 10. 10, 16. II
In the call for this primary election
II purports TO be under the rules of
the Republican and National Progress
sive parties, and for the purposes o
this election and as a result Of tho
primary, a ticket has been filed anC
Il Is now too late 10 file one.
"It therefore appears that neither
Of the two Identical tickets filed or
May II under the two separate part,
titles Ia a ticket of a party which helt
the primary election on that day, an,
which was designated In the call fo'
the primaries as Republican and Ma
tional Progressive parties and il Il
In distinct violation OF the law 4,
have filed two separate tickets as
result of that primary And the OF
ficers who executed the certificates
that we're filed under the circum
stances did so wholly without author
ity and without warrant Of law"