Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 102, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 March 1920 — THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES [ARTICLE]

THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES

Held in Nineteen States—Some Have Already Voted. Presidential primary elections are held in 19 states as follows: North Dakota, Meh. 16; South Dakota, Meh. 23; Michigan, Apr. 5; Wisconsin, Apr. 6; Illinois, Apr. 13; Nebraska, Apr. 20; Montana, Apr. 23; Massachusetts, New Jersey and Ohio, Apr. 27; Maryland, May 3; California and Indiana, May 4; Pennsylvania and Vermont, May 18; Oregon, May 21; Texas and West Virginia, May 25; New Hampshire held her primary Meh. 9. In a number of other states, the direct primary is optional with the state committee of any party. In Georgia, the Democrats have ordered such an election for Apr. 29. The preferential primary election operates variously in the states mentioned. In some, the delegates are later chosen in regular party state convention but go to the party na-> tional convention “instructed” by the result of the popular .vote. They must support' thq winning primary candidate so long as his name Is before the convention. In other states,

delegates are chosen by the primary. In Ohio, for example, the candidate for delegate must state first and second choice for presidential candidate and at the same time pledge himself to support the popular choice of the state. In Pennsylvania the candidate may either pledge himself to support the popular choice or indicate under his name on the ballot that he does not promise to support the popular choice. ' ’ In other words, the primary elections in these 19 states are mostly Important as indications of popular sentiment. They determine nothing conclusively.