The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1920-04-10
CONVENTION LAWS OF
TEXAS EXPLAINED.
OpiniOn Given By Attorney
Generals Office Governing
Precincts, County and State.
(From Dallas Newsl.


Austin, Texas, April 7.-Information
relative to precinct. county and State
conventions to select delegates to the
national convention is contained in an
opinion given by the Attorney Cen
erals Departmet and prepared by AS
sistant Attorney General L. c. SUIT
ton to John W. Hornsby County At
torney of Travis County. The infor-
nation contained in the opinion fol-
lows.
The State Conventfon.-The fState
Democratic convention to elect dele
gates to the national Democratic con-
vention will be held at such place
Executive Committee of the party on
the fourth Tuesday of May, 1920
which is May 25 1920.
Selectionl of Delegates.-Said State
gates duly elected by the voters OF
said political party in the several
counties of the State in the following
manner:
Precinct Conventlon.-on the first
Saturday in May, 1920. that is May
l, 1920 a primary convention shall
beheld in each voting precinct of the
county. which precinct primary con-
vention shall elect delegates to the
Hours of holding Precinct Conven-
tion.-The precinct Convention shall be
held between the hours of 10 a. m.
and p, m: on May, /, 1920.
Qualifications Of Members.-only
cinct are entitled to assemble and par
/ ticipate in the precinct convention.
Presiding officer: Appointment and
Qualifications.-The precinct conven-
tion shall be presided over by a chair
man. who shall have been previously
appointed by the country executive
committee of the party and said
chairman, shall be qualified voter
in said election precinct.
Officers of Precinct Convention
Said precinct convention may elect
from among its numbers secretary
and such officers as may be necessary
to conduct the business of the con-
vention.
Powers of Chairman.-The chair
man of said precinct convention shall
possess all the powers and authority
! that is given to electiop Judges under
the provisions of the election laws
of this State. This means, among
other things. that he may swear MEM
bers and interrograte them relative
to their qualifications and require
them to establish their right to par
ticipate in the convention.
List of Voters.-Before transactine
any business, the chairman of the
precinct convention shall make OF
cause to be made a list of all quail
no person shall be entered upon said
list, nor shall he be permitted to vote
or to participate In the business OF
such convention. until ii is made to
appear that he is qualified voter
in said precinct from certified list
of qualified voters. the same as is re-
duired in conducting a general cleo
| tion.
Convention.-After the precinct con-
vention is organizes as above pro-
vided. 1t shall elect it's deleg ties to
the, county convention and transact
such other business as may properly
come before ii.
Record of Proceedings.-The officers
of said precinct convention shall
keep a written record of It's pro-
ceedings, including a list Of the dele
gates elected to the county conven-
tion. which record shall constitute
the returns from said convention.
The same shall be signed officially
sealed up and safely transmitted by
the officers thereof to the chairman
the party and to be Ised by the exc
cutive committee in making UP a roll
of the delegates to the county con-
vention.
The County Convention.-The county
convention shall be held on the first
Tuesday after the first Saturday in
May. 1920. which is May 4, 1920, and
shall elect delegates to the State con-
yention aforesaid.
Qualifications of Voters.-These con-
ventions are affairs of the Democratic
party and hence only those who are
Democrats can participate in same
In the foregoing, wherever IL is ex-
planned that only qualified voters can
vote or participate in the conventions
or be chairman thereof. IL means those
Qualified to vote in primary elections
that is, for instance. persons who. In
addition to being qualified voters
generally under the Constitution and
laws of the State or Texas are also
full-fledged citizens of the United
Z states: they must be either natural
| born citizens or those fully natural
/ ized: persons who have simply de-
clared their intention to become citi-
zens are not qualified voters withir
holding of these conventions.
Women are qualified voters withir