Evening star., 1940-02-18
Capital SideIights
BIZ win p. Kennedy


Massachusetts, presidential primary and
the effort to pledge delegates for IA
vorite sons in other States has caused
considerable cloakroom gossip at the
Capitol as to how far delegates to ma
tional conventions are bound to support
such primary preferences. Out Of this
discussion has come some pertinent in
formation regarding the effect Of State
election laws:
Maryland's pledged delegates must
vote for the preferred candidate as long
as there is q chance he may be nom
mated.
Pennsylvania delegates must "use all
honorable means within their power to
achieve-the nomination Of the candidate
to whom they are pledged.
Arkansas delegates are required to
vote as . unit unless the candidate Is
30 lacking in support that his nomina-
ton is impossible"
Ohio requires candidate for delegate
to file statement announcing his frst
and second choices for presidential can
didate-and he may also pledge to sup
port the candidate successful In the pri-
mary. The consent of the presidential
candidate must be filed in writing.
Illinois law declares the preferential
primary shall be for the sole purpose
OF securing an expression of sentiment
of the party voters" Nominating petit
tions must be sworn to by the presiden-
tial candidate.
California and Massachusetts, list can
didates for delegates on the ballot in
columns according to their preference
for particular candidates and they may
be voted for in groups-but they must
have the approval of the presidential
candidate.
New Hampshire permits the delegate
candidate to have printed after his name
that Of the candidate to whom he is
pledged.
New York delegates are not permitted
to indicate on the ballot their personal
preference for presidential candidate.
Michigan, Alabama, Georgia and
Florida hold presidential preference pri-
maries only by order of a party's State
Central Committee.
Oregon last year repealed some of her
presidential preference primary laws, but
provides for election of delegates to ma
tional conventions by district nominat-
ing committees and nomination of presi-
dental electors by the voters.
Voters in 1s States may express their
preferences in spring primaries regard
ing candidates seeking presidential nom
nations. Approaching preferential pri-
mary dates are: New Hampshire, March
II; Wisconsin and New York, April 2;
Illinois and Nebraska, April Q; Pennsyl-
vania, April %; Massachusetts,, April 80:
Maryland, May s: Alabama, Florida,
South Dakota and California, May 7;
West Virginia and Ohio, May IA; Oregon,
May II, and New Jersey, May II.
Representative Foster stearns Of New
Hampshire, son Of President Calvin
Coolidses sponsor and best friend, the
late Frank stearns, Is calling the at
tention Of his colleagues to the way in
which his home State is taking an out
standing lead In spreading the gospel Of
city planning and the education Of the
citizens In this regard. He Is displaying
non-technical primer" entitled
your Home Town." recently issued by
the New Hampshire Planning and De-
velopment Commission, which discusses
opportunities for community develop
ment, ways In which population shifts
and Industrial trends affect q community.
and how an ofdcial planning agency is
set up. The New England Regional
Planning Commission has also published
handbook-"From the Ground Cp"-
which emphasizes the Importance Of q
city planning agency to comm,mitys
development.
The way Of the transgressor In dodg-
Ing automobile taxes is growing harder
since the United States Bureau Of Public
Roads EIGHT years sgo disclosed, after
survey, that only about 90 per cent Of
the taxable motor vehicles In the coun-
try were actually listed on the tax rolls,
and that probably not more than 90 per
cent Of ths taxes levied On them were
collected.