American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-02-07

Restricting operation OF the prl-
mary principle to county offices and
turning back to the convention sys-
tenn for the selection of candidates
seeking federal and state positions,
a measure introduced in the senate
Thursday by Ralph S. Nelson of
Kootenai and l. H. Nash of Frank
lin makes good predictions that a
fusion of the two schemes would be
attempted.
1t is believed that the proposal Of
fered already has the approval of the
Republican members of the legisla-
ture. Nelson is president and Nash
secretary of the majority's permanent
caucus in the upper house.
July of election year is designated
for the sequence by which each party
is to arrive at the selection of its
ticket.
Starts at Bottom.
The process starts with a primary
election held the second Tuesday of
July, at which candidates for the dis
trict judgeships and county offices
will be chosen, aspirants to positions
in the legislature being included in
this list.
Each precinct in the county elects
at the primary a precinct committee
mar and delegates to the county con-
ventjon which is scheduled to com
mence deliberations Just a fortnight
after primary day.
Selection of delegates to the state
meeting will be the principal duty of
the county convention but the smaller
body also is empowered to adopt a
county platform if 1t sees fit.
Party Organization Provided For.
Members of a state central commit
tee comprising one representative
from each county will determine the
place at which the state convention
is TO be held and will prescribe the
qualifications of convention members.
Adoption of the party platform is
the first duty devolving upon the state
gathering. Presidential electors, Uni
ted states senator, representatives in
congress, governor, lieutenant COVER
nor, justices of the supreme court and
other state officers will be the order
followed in making nominations.
Nomination by petition is made pos
sible under the Nelson-Nash plan. Can
didates for federal and state offices
must present endorsements bearing
5000 signatures, not more than 25 per
CtuI VI NulCu ncIc ODldlntu III d Dlu-
gle county, in order to make their APP
pearance on the November ballot as
Independents.
Aspirants to the several nantes
which will be distributed by the state
conventions are permitted to spend in
campaigning a sum equal to % per
cent of their yearly salary paid in the
position sought. Itemized accounts of
all a~xnan6if1ra unraf hn nrndnnfnd IN
the secretary of state.
The measures more important pro-
visions are:
Parties Defined-Within the mean
ing of the act, a party is a political or
Eanization which, at the last election.
EAST for one OF its candidates a total
of 10 per cent OF the entire vote cast
for all the candidates for that particu-
lar office. The designation party" is
also made to apply to an affiliation OF
voters equaling in strength 5 per cent
of the total number Of votes cast al
the preceding general election.
County Primaries-The primary will
be the means used to nominate dis
Eict judges, representatives in the leg
~islature,, all county officers, a commit.
teeman from each precinct and dele
~lGb HUN 6dCu pIcSluNl " Inc COuulj
convention. In every precinct the
Number OF delegates to be chosen will
be determined by dividing the tota
Of votes cast for all candidates b.
the number of candidates and accept
ing the result as the precinct vote
One delegate will be allowed for eacl
50 votes OF the basis OF the averag'
obtained. For instance, IL the tota
number of votes polled in a certain
precinct were $500 and the number IL
the average to be used as the precinc
vote would be 210, and application o
the unit proposed, 80, would give tn
precinct in question seven delegate
30 the county convention.
State and County Committees-Cen
trail committees for both state an
county are provided by the bill. TIL
state committee comprises a singl
representative from each county i
the state and the county body ha
precinct representatives as it's men
bers. Each organization has the powe
to fill vacancies coming within il
jurisdiction. Determination Of Ii
hour and place for the holding Of III
state and county conventions also