Known as the Early Journal Content, this set of works include research articles, news, letters, and other writings published in more than 200 of the oldest leading academic journals. The works date from the mid--seventeenth to the early twentieth centuries. We encourage people to read and share the Early Journal Content openly and to tell others that this resource exists. People may post this content online or redistribute in any way for non--commercial purposes. Read more about Early Journal

more »

... ntent at http://about.jstor.org/participate--jstor/individuals/early-journal--content. JSTOR is a digital library of academic journals, books, and primary source objects. JSTOR helps people discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content through a powerful research and teaching platform, and preserves this content for future generations. JSTOR is part of ITHAKA, a not--for--profit organization that also includes Ithaka S+R and Portico. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SCIENCE REVIEW Primary Elections. Three more States, Maryland, Ohio, and Oklahoma have added new statutes to the primary election legislation of 1908, making a total of five general direct primary laws for the year. These laws, while similar in general underlying principles, differ so widely in applying them, both in degree and method, as to represent two if not three distinct types of primary legislation. All abolish the old combined caucus and convention system, but vary greatly in the extent to which they substitute direct nominations and direct election of delegates and committeemen. All transform the political party from a purely voluntary, extra-legal and irresponsible association into a more or less public, legal and responsible organ of government, but differ widely as to the degree in which they definitely determine party organization and powers and regulate party action. All three acts are mandatory, each as far as it goes, but are wide apart in the amount of discretion allowed the party organization, or governing bodies, Oklahoma allowing the least, Ohio more, and Maryland the most. Oklahoma provides for a pure or unmixed system of direct primary nominations, Ohio and Maryland, for a composite or mixed system of direct primary and delegate convention combined. The Oklahoma and Ohio laws apply throughout their respective States, the Maryland law only to the counties outside Baltimore which already had a special primary law that is now made to apply in the city to primary elections for State offices. The Oklahoma law is most complete in its scope and provides for the direct nomination of all candidates of all elective offices, national, State and local without exception and including candidates for presidential electors and delegates to national conventions after 1908. By the Ohio act all candidates for offices, including congressmen,' filled by a county or subdivision thereof, or municipality are to be nominated by direct primaries. However, in counties electing four or more members of the general assembly2 or forming a judicial district or subdivision that elects a common pleas judge or judges3 the county committee may by majority vote at least forty days before the primary day direct that the nominees for said legislative and judicial positions shall be named by delegate convention. All candidates for State and district offices, where the district is larger than a county, are to be nominated by delegate conven-1 Only four are included, from the first and second districts (Hamilton), the twelfth (Franklin), and the twenty-first (Cleveland). 2 There are four of these: Hamilton (Cincinnati); Cuyahoga (Cleveland); Franklin (Columbus); and Lucas counties. 'Five such counties exist: Belmont, Butler, Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton.