The Cairo bulletin., 1913-02-01
ELECTORS CANNOT
Be DENIED THEIR
RIGHT UNDER Law
Section 1s Specifically Provides a
Way Voters Can Exercise
Prerogstivc.
ADVOCATES FIRM In STAND
Claim Candidate Can Use Petitions
at Regular E,ection Tues
day, April Is.
ADVOCATES FIRM IN STAND

Opposition to tho Commission
Form OF Municipal Government is
highly e'ated now that Judge Na.i
yesterday set March / as the date for
holding the spccia election submit
ting the question 10 tho voters of
Cairo.
The opponents to the measure
claim the Commission Form can
not be made TO apply to Cairo until
1916 even thought tho question be
carried at the election March !.
This opposition cited the law gov
erning the holding Of primary elec-
ton, this section providing that 20
days no.icc shall be given prior
to the hold ng OF the primary cleo
ton an impossibiIity when only I
DAYS intervene between March a.
the date of holding the election and
March IL, when the law prescribes
the primary ection shall be he Il.
Under this construction the op-
ponents to the Commission Form
apparently have the best OF IT,
BUT
The advocates OF the Commission
Form of Municipal Government last
evening were very jubiiant over the
|matter claiming that the Commits
sion Form viii carry at tho special
election by q vote Of three to one,
|t8he of--ttte siaaile -prolqeters 81 sthe
movement claiming thar II Will carry
by vote OF five TO one.
They laugh and ridicuie the exhi-
bition by the opposition Of GROSS
IGNORANCE of the law governing &
the ection and holding OF primaries
in the state and the right OF elec-
tors
They say the opposi ZION over ook-
ed one strong and succinct point In
the Commission Act which explicitly
provides that the voter cannot be
denied his right, as Follows
Section 1t. The two candi-
dates receiving the highest
number of votes for mayor shall
be the candidates and tho only
candidates whose names shall
be placed upon the ballot Tor
mayor at the next succeeding
general or special municipal
election, and the eight candi-
dates receiving the highest
number of votes for commits
sioners. or al such candidates
If less than eight, shall be the
candidates aud the only candi-
dates whose names shall be
placed upon the ballot tor com
misgicmers at such municipal
election: Provided. that noth
ing contained In this Act shall
be construed as preventing an
elector, either al the primary
elytion or general or special
municipal cection, held under
this Act from writing in the
names of the candidate or can
didates of his choice in Il blank
space on said ticket, and max
| ing q cross opposite thereto in
accordance with the election
law in force in said city or vii
lage.
1t is this last PROVISION which
fortifes their cause, they say and
provides way to put the Commits.
sion Form, ii acted upon tavorably
March 4, into effect this yea
They also claim that the holding
Of primaries is not absolutely essen.
tial under the general law provid.
ing for elections.
The advocates. and they are many
are up in arms and declare without
reservation that the voters of Cairo
shall not be denied thesg rights. anc
| that any duly qualified elector oi
electors who aspire TO hold office un.
der the Commission Form. can be.
come candidates by petition signed
| by the legal number OF duly qualified
voters as under the present system
1t is this denial OF the rights o
the voters in having voice in tn
affairs of Cairo which is the motive
they claim that inspired the deman,
for changs from the present form
Iof government.
| When asked IL they contemplate
Withdrawing the petition as sug
gested, they hooted and laughed a
the proposal, claiming that it ema
mated from an irresponsible an
| grossly ignorant source, prompte