The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-15
A PRIMARY ELECTION LAW.

Both parties in their platforms, declared
is necessary. and pledged themselves to in
sure it's enactment. The primary, under the
present practice, is unsatisfactory Liable
to abuse it has been abused. Open to
fraud, it is often the case that fraud is the
first resort. In both parties thousands who
should attend the primary no longer attend,
because, in sharp contests, those meetings
are too much like mobs. Men who will not
vote for the candidates nominated are easily
induced to go to the primaries and help to
nominate. In other ways the primary, as
now conducted. is the weak spot in our sys-
tenn of elections, for the reason that one
or the other of the sets of candidates NOM
mated will be elected. so that those VINO
vote a ticket at an election simply ratify
the work which is done hurriedy and
thoughtlessly at best. Therefore it is as
important that the law should regulate the
primary as we'll as the election which will
ratify the work Of one or the other set
of primaries.
One of the objections to the regulation of
the primary by law is that it will recognize
parties and legislate with reference to them.
So long as parties control government such
an objection has no force. On the contrary,
whatever has to do with government in any
capacity is a proper subject of legislation.
Parties are already recognized in all recent
legislation. The election laws declare that
both parties shall be represented upon cleo
ton boards. The principle of minority rep
resentation on state and municipal boards
and in the makeup of fire and police de-
partments recognizes parties. True, there
are those who regard parties as an evil,
but those who do this do so because they
a necessity to representative government.
Partisanship may. be abused, and so may
religion. Parties and partisanship should
not only be recognized by the law, but par
ties should be protected because they con-
troi government.
Both parties, seeing the evils of the pres
ent primary, should get together by their
representatives on state or other committees
and devise a law which will insure the or
derby and fair management of such assem-
blies in future. That law should provide
for the orderly voting at the primary of
only those who have a right so to vote. 1t
should provide for boards on which the sew
eral contestants shall be represented. The
primary elections should be held day and
evening, and all delegates should be elected
by ballot Whenever possible the individ-
uals of each party should vote for the cam
didate direct rather than for delegates.
Some method should be devised to prevent
fraudulent voting. Inasmuch as the party
polls in precincts show with great accuracy
those who belong 10 the respective parties
therein, such precinct lists, with slight re-
vision, could be made voting lists for pre-
cincts.
In several States primaries are held in
the larger cities under a law of the State.
There is such law in Illinois for Chicago
and other cities. All the laws in force re-
garding primaries can be consulted if nee
essary, and "a measure can be framed which
will fit the conditions in Indiana. The law
should be simple in its features and eco
nomical in its operations.