East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-01-16

only candidates for county offices
such as sheriff. treasurer. assessor,
andiso forth. shall file with the coun-
~ clerk. and that all asplrants for
state and district offices, including
candidates for the legislature shall
Joint representative have heretofore
been required to file with the secre-
tary Of state; and inasmch as state
file with the secretary of state.
More Time Is Given.
Candidates for joint senator and
senators and representatives are dis
trict officers. II was deemed best 10
require all candidates for these posi-
tions to file at the state capitol. This
chapter gives the secretary of state
and county clerks more time for the
printing and distribution of the Off
cial ballots. The time heretofore al
lowed for this work has been insult
ficient and in view of the increased
population of the state and the adop-
ton of woman suffrage. the new ar
rangement is an absolute necessity.
Chapter 20S designates the third
Friday in May. Of the year 1914 and
biennially thereafter as the day OF
the primary nominating election.
Heretofore the primary election has
been held in April in the years of
presidential election, and in Septem-
Der in off years. This arrangement
has been the cause of much confu.
sion and irregularity in the opening
and closing of registration books, cir
culation of petitions, printing Of
pamphlets and other important work
incident to the election.
The 45-day period between the pri-
mary and general election in off
years was insufficient to print ana
otherwise prepare for the election,
distribute the election pamphlets and
the holding Of the primaries ir
April in presidential years, in order
to select delegates to the national
party conventions, necessitated a
campaign of seven monthes between
the primaries and the election. In
view of these circumstances. the leg.
islature fixed the third riday in May
as primary election day. thereby CIV
ing the people an opportunity to hold
their nominating election on a uni
form date. with time to choose dele
gates to the national conventions IL
Presidential years.
Primary Before Hot Months.
1t is true, there will still be five and
| a half months between the primaries
and the general election. but this win
enable the people to dispose of the
strife and turmoil of the primary elec.
tion before the hot summer months
will give the candidates ample time for
thorough campaign. and will give
the secretary of state, stat printer,
county clerk and other election off
! cials sufficient time in which to can
vass the primary returns. register vot-
ers. print and distribute party and in
! itiative pamphlets and otherwise pre-
! pare for the election.
Chapter lOS defines political party
as an organization whose candidates
| for presidential electors polled at least
| 30 per cent in the last presidential
| election The old law made % per
cent of the vote for representative in
congress in each district the basis OF
party's right to recognition under
the direct primary law. The effect of
| the change is to recognize the pro-
! gressives along with the repu blical
and democrats and compel the first
named party to nominate its own tick
ct rather than hold a convention and
| indorse candidates Of other parties.
Incidentally this will prohibit
candidate from running under the col
crs of more than one party as all can
| didates must register in one party or
another and run in the primaries of
the party in which they are registered
This chapter also prohibits the use of
popular, catchy ballot slogans by in
dependent candidates in the general
election, limiting their ballot designa-
ton to the words, independent" or
"nonpartisan'
Another important feature of this
chapter is the provision whereby Ma
tional Committeeman from Oregon
must be elected at the primary cleo
tions of their respective parties in
1914 and every four years thereafter.
This will enable the rank and file Of
the republicans, democrats and pro-
| gressives to elect their National Com
| rlitteemen in "off'' years in lieu of
letting the convention delegates select
them after the presidential nomina-
tions have been made.
Date for Petitions Uniform.
Chapter 2O1 provides a uniform date
for filing nominating petitions with
the county clerk and secretary Of
state. In the past there has been one
date for those who desired space in
the party pamphlets and another date
for those who desired no space. with
much resulting confusion and mis-
understanding. The new arrangement
provides that petitions directed to the
county clerk must be filed at least 80
| days before the primary election, and
those directed to the secretary of
state at least 35 days before. regard
less Of the desire for space in the
state pamphlet.
Heretofore the limits Of filing with
the county clerk and secretary of
state were Is and 20 days. respect
ively-an insufficient time in which
to print and distribute the ballots
particularly in the large counties OF