Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-29
STEVENSON GIVES
ELECTION RULING
Committeeman of All Parties Will Be
Elected in April, Says Secre-
tary of State.
STANDS BY VIEW OF LUCEY
First Definite Announcement Author
tiles Would Recognize Spring
Primary.

Secretary OF State Lewis Ii. Steven
son at Springfield yesterday an
nounced that he would accept and file
petitions of candidates for state central
committeeman for the primary cleo
ton April II. This was the first def
mite announcement that the election
machinery of the state would recog-
nize the April primary in preference
to the September primary as the time
for electing state committeeman and
precinct committeeman.
Letters have been sent by Mr.. Stew
enson to the chairmen Of the state
central committees of the democratic,
progressive, republican and socialistic
parties asking them to file in his Of
fee the certificates required by law,
showing the number of delegates to be
elected by each party.
although the legislature has failed
to enact any amendments to the pri-
mary law" Mr.. Stevenson's statement
said, 'it is a foregone conclusion that
the delegates to national nominating
conventions will be elected in the
April primary, instead of at the party
conventions.
Attorney General Lucey has placed
this construction upon the law, and
has also taken the position that pre-
cinct committeeman, ward committee
men in cities, and state central COM
mitteemen are to be elected in April
and not in September.
The secretary of state will accept
and file petitions Of candidates for
state central committeeman for the
election in April Senatorial commit
teemen will be elected at the Septem-
Der primary. Petitions for delegates
to national nominating conventions
and petitions for state committeeman
may be filed in my Office by mail be-
ginning Feb. II and ending March 2.
Petitions for ward committeeman are
filed with the county clerks between
the same dates. Names of candidates
for precinct committeeman are written
in on the ballot.
Conditions for Filing.
81 will not accept nor file petitions
of candidates for delegate to national
conventions unless they are accom-
panied by statements in writing indi-
eating the candidates choice for presi-
dent or statement that he has no
choice.
THE petitions for any office must be
circulated by some person residing in
the district to be represented by that
particular officer, and the petitions
must be signed by the following:
! Delegates or alternate delegates at
large-at least 1000 and not to exceed
1000 electors.
! Delegates from congressional dis
| tricts-One-half of l per cent of the
qualified primary electors of the re-
spective parties residing in the dis
! trict.
State central committeeman - At
least 100 primary electors of the con-
! gressional district
! Ward committeemen-One-half of =
per cent of the electors in the ward"
Conventions to Follow Quickly.
! The primary election will be held on
April II, the second Tuesday of the
month. On the following Monday
April II, the county conventions of the
various parties will be held. April 10
is the date for congressional conven-
tons, and April 81 is the date desig-
mated for the meeting of the state
/ conventions.
Candidates for election of president
and vice president of the United States
and for trustees of the University of
Illinois may be nominated at party
conventions. The primary for state
congressional and county offices will
he held Sept. 49,
Mr.. Stevenson announced that he
would not be a candidate for delegate
at large to the national convention. but
would seek the democratic nomination
Tor secretary of state, his present posi-
| ton.