The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-15
TIED GOWDY'S HANDS
REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE ADOPTS
UNUSUAL SET OF RULES.
Hereafter He Must DO Only the
Committee Directs-His PROSECUTING
for Mckinley.

The meeting of the Republican State COM
mittee, yesterday afternoon. lasted from 2
until nearly O'Clock. Quite a fair-sized
crowd of prominent Republicans from over
the State was attracted by the gathering,
and there was much general talk OF politics
in the lobby of the Denson. The Mckinley
instructions question was discussed to some
extent. but in as much as most of those pres
ent were candidates for something or other,
they were very chary about expressing their
views.
There were some signs of difference of
opinion before the committee convened Two
questions of Importance were to come up.
One was the adoption of a new set of by
laws. which had been prepared by commit
tee composed OF Messrs. Holman, Fesler, Os-
born. Filbeck and Mccoy. The other ques-
ton was that of confirming the chairmans
appointments of his executive and advisory
committees. On this latter point there was
some little difference of opinion. 1t had been
suggested that 1t would be a good plan to
defer the confirmation of these committees
until after the national convention, and it
was argued in behalf of this rule that no
questions of policy or Of great moment were
national convention all questions of candi-
dates and platforms would be settled and
the committee could act with much more
intelligence in making up these impor-
tsnt auxiliary committees than it could
now. The others argued that such
an action would be misconstrued as
slap at the chairman and at all
his appointees. each of whom has number of
strong personal friends upon that commit
tee. This was the chief topic of discussion
after the committee convened, and il was
this discussion that prolonged the meeting to
such an extent. The latter argument finally
prevailed and the appointments were con-
firmed
upon the second question, that of adopting
revised bylaws, there was practically no
dinerence of opinion. The impression is
very general within the committee as well as
without it that its officers have made the
mistake OF taking too much for granted and
OF making too liberal use of the fairly large
discretionary powers given them by the COM
mittee. The new bylaws reported by the
subcommittee. therefore, provided for a very
considerable curtailment of these powers.
and for a much closer supervision of the
chairman's work by the committee. The new
bylaws read as follows:
The Republican State central committee of
INDIANA, In regular session, does hereby en-
act and establish the following rules and
regulations for its government and all other
committees subordinate thereto.
Organization
Section !. The central committee shall be
composed OF one member from each con-
gressional district and its regularly chosen
officers
Sec. 2. Each member shall be a true. dis
Greet representative Republican, in good
fr.r
the term OF two years. or until his success
sor is chosen. The selection to be made in
accordance with such rules and plans as
may from time to time be adopted by the
State central committee
Vacancies
Sec. 3. Whenever a vacancy occurs in the
central committee by death, resignation or
otherwise. the same shall be filled by the
resenting the district ia which the vacancy
has occurred at a time and place to be des-
ignated by the chairman OF the central COM
mittee.
Powers of Central Committee
Sec. 4. The State central committee Is
hereby declared TO be a permanent political
and reorganized biennfally, as hereinbefore
provided. and shall have immediate charge
and full control OF the political affairs of the
Republican party in the State, the manage
ment of its campaigns, the collection and
disbursement of funds, the selection of
speakers, the distribution OF documents and
vigorous measures as may be necessary to
insure the success Of the Republican party
and the election of its nominees. Said COM
ward. town, city and county in the State
10 be well and thoroughly organized for
political purposes by proper committees and
tanned continuously from year to year as
auxiliaries to the State central committee.
Quorum
Sec. s. A majority of the members Of the
central committee shall constitute a-quorum
for the transaction of business. All votes
shall be taken by ballot, unless otherwise
ordered by the committee.
Officers
Sec. g. Immediately following the election
of the central committee the members shall
meet and organize by the election of a chair
man, a vice chairman, a secretary and a
treasurer. who shall serve during the pleas
ure of the committee. The chairman may be
chosen from the central committee or from
the State at large; the vice chairman shall
be a member of said committee, the secre-
tary shall be elected outside of the COM
mittee.
Duties of the Chairman
Sec. Z. 1t shall be the duty of the chair
man to preside at all meetings of the CEN
trail committee and in case of a. tie he shall
have the casting vote. He shall personally
attend at the headquarters of the commit
tee during the political campaigns occur
ring during his official term. and by and with
the advice OF the committee shall have the
supervision and management of such cam
paigns. He shall carry into effect the views
and orders of the committee or cause the
same to be done, with all possible celebrity
and promptitude and shall perform such
other duties as hereinafter provided, or as
may be assigned to him by the committee
ne being hereby invested with such discre-
tionary powers as may be necessary and es-
sential in the discharge Of his duties.
Duties of the. Vice Chairman
Sec. s. The vice chairman shall act as
chairman in case a vacancy occurs until
said vacancy Is filled, and ne shall also dis
charge the duties OF that office, IL neces-
sary, during the absence or inability OF the
chairman, and I'm either case he shall have
all the powers of the chairman and per-
form all the duties devolving upon that Of
ficer.
Duties Of Secretary
Sec O. The secretary~ shall keep proper
records OF the proceedings of the commit
tee and of the organization of the party
throughout the State; he shall conduct or
supervise all necessary correspondence, at
tend to the assignment and posting of
speakers and perform such other duties per
tanning to his office or that may be assigned
TO him by the committee or its chairman as
may be conducive TO the thorough organiza-
ton and welfare of the party. He shall
carefully preserve such records, circulars,
documents and other printed matter as may
be useful for the guidance of the committee
in succeeding campaigns. and he is hereby
charged with and held responsible for the
safe keeping of said archives. furniture and
other effects belonging to the committee.