The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-10
CANNOT USE THE NAME
"NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARITY
CANNOT GO UPON THE BALLOT.
POpOcrats on the Election Board OBJ
ject-Board VIII Have to Select
a Name Itself.

A meeting of the State Board of Election
Commissioners was held last evening to
pass upon the certificates of nomination
flied thus far. The only one about which
there was any question was that of the
National Democrats. and S. o. Pickens,
chairman of the State committee of that
organization, made a brief argument before
the board. The National Democrats have
elected to stand by the name and emblem
they have chosen, and since the board has
decided against them they will not suggest
another, but will let the board make its own
selection. I'VE shall not suggest anything
else. said Mr.. Pickens yesterday after
noon, but shall let the board, if it decides
against US, make its own selection. If
Governor Matthews should rule out our
hsme and call us Boltocrats, as he does in
fis private conversation, and substitute for
the picture of Jefferson the device of a bolt
or kicking mule, as some of the Popo-
cratic leaders have suggested, the only ef-
feet would be to drive more sound-money
Democrats to Mckinley, and if he wants
to undertake any such responsibility he
may do so''
Mr.. Pickens, in his argument before the
board, said there were no legal precedents
that fit the case exactly, but to him the
reading of the law was very plain. 1t pro-
vides that in case of a split or faction that
the convention which is held under the reg
ular call of the regular organization shall
be entitled to the name, and the silver
Democrats were therefore entitled to the
name Democratic party" The law pro-
vides that where the ticket is put on by
petition the petitioners have the right to
choose any name they desire, provided il
Is not the same as the one belonging to the
regular organization. He defined the word
same TO mean substantially the same and
contended that the words National Dem
ocrauc Were not the same as Demo-
cratic, and that the distinction is suf-
hclently clear for voters to understand He
could see no ground whatever for any OBJ
lecuons to the picture Of Jefferson as the
While Mr.. Pickens argued his cause he
was frequently questioned by Mr.. Kern and
he thought it would be confusing if the
Palmer ticket were designated the true
ekef ar pc or g snna tna pemo e
be an invidious distinction the board had
no right to make.
THE NAME BARRED.
AS soon as Mr.. Pickens had finished the
board went into executive session and de-
teImined several matters Of routine before
it took up this question. When it was
brought up Mr.. Kern offered a resolution
denying the petition of the National Demo-
Gratis to go the ballot under that name,
raising objection to the emblem. In Mr..
kern's action on this matter was apparent
the reason why he was preferable to Mr.
Mccullough in the eyes of Governor Mat
thews. His resolution reads as follows:
Whereas A petition has been filed with
the Governor and laid before the board,
signed by more than five hundred qualified
electors Of the State. asking that a ticket
be placed on the ballot at the head of which
should be as the device the head of
Thomas Jefferson, surrounded by wreath
of leaves, and as a name National Demo-
cratic ticket and
Whereas, The regularly constituted or
ganiZation known as the Democratic party
is claiming the right to have its ticket
placed on said ballot under the name
Democratic ticket, and
Whereas, 1t is provided by the statutes
that in case of division in any party and
claim by two or more factions to the same
party name, title, figure or device the
Board of Election Commissioners shall give
the preference of name to the convention
held at the time and place designated in
the call of the regularly constituted party
Whereas, The national and State con-
Ientions of the De nocratlc party at which
it's candidates for President. Vice President
and electors were nominated were held at
the times and places designated in the call
of the regularly constituted party authori-
RESOLVED. first, That the device proposed
by said petition above described be APP
proved.
said petition that the name of National
Democratic ticket be placed at the head
Of said ticket said ballot be not granted.
Resolved, third, That the chief clerk of
this board be instructed to notify Samuel
O. pickens, chairman of the State CEN
trail committee claiming the mare of Ma
tional Democratic party, of the action OF
this board and request that said committee
present another name, or title, to be paced
before and above the list of candidates
presented by said petition"
This resolution was carried by a vote or
2 to l. both the Popocratic members voting
for it. Mr.. Pickens will be officially mott
fled of its adoption to-day and asked to
suggest another name This, he stated yes
terday, he will not do. leaving the response
bility with the Governor. TINS determina-
ton was explained to Governor Matthews
last night and he was asked what name he
you'd choose He declined to say, declar-
ing that in case Mr.. Pickens declined to
suggest another name 1t wouid become the
duty of the board to select one.