Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-30
RECEIVE COPIES
OF INITIATED
PRIMARY BILL
Conventions Provided for in
Proposed Measure Here
for Signatures.

Copies of the proposed election law
which its proponents urge to reduce
the heavy expense of the present pri-
mary system and to provide for party
integrity in primaries and the enforce
ment of majority rule. have been re-
ceivcd in Great Falls. The bill is to
be circulated for signatures undo the
initiative and referendum law of the
state and will be voted on by the peo-
pie next November.
The bill is the result of action of
the state convention recently held in
Helena and has been put into shape.
from the rough draft adopted at that
time. by Attorney W. NJ. Johnston of
Billings. authorized by the convention
to prepare the bill for the printer. 1t
is to be circulated under direction of
a committee Of three of which Lester
Lobe. former county attorney of Lew
is and Clark county. is chairman.
Provides for Conventions
The bill provides for county and
state conventions which shall nominate
all officers, county, state, judicial and
legislative. through delegates chosen in
precinct primaries.
The bill provides first, for calling
of a state committee meeting the first
Monday in July every two years at
which time a call for a state conven-
ton is issued not less than A. nor
more than 20 days before the general
election, the time and place of holding
it being designated. In presidential
years the call for a state convention to
choose delegates and alternates and a
national committeeman of the various
political parties is issued the first Mon
day of April, the convention to take
place not more than ~ days priOr TO
the national convention.
Precinct Primaries
Within 10 days after the state com
mittee call. the county central commit
tee shall call a county convention. fix
ing the number of delegates, and file a
certificate of the call with the county
clerk and recorder. who forthwith is
sues a call for precinct primaries and
posts notices for holding the primary
in each. Notices are also to be pub
lished in the newspapers. The clerk
furnishes q certified list of legal voters
of each precinct, registered up to 10
days before the primary. to the pre-
III
Secret Ballot Provided
All voting in the primary. after the
chairman and secretary and three cleo
ton judges are chosen. is to be by
secret ballot on nominations for dele
gates to the state convention and for
county and township officers.
The state convention adopts its own
rules of operation, ballots secretly on
candidates and delegates to national
conventions and on national committee
man. as well as dominates all candi-
dates for congressional. state and judi
cial offices. the convention being en-
powered to resolve itself into various
district conventions for the nominal
ton of Judges.
Party Integrity
Party integrity is provided for by
the records and the declaration of the
voter as to his affiliations. but if there
is any question as TO the affiliation,
challenges may be offered and the
voter subscribes to an oath prescribed
in the bill.
For those who are not satisfied by
the convention action. provision is
made for nomination for public office
through petition. This is provided for
in section 80 of the bill.