The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-05
PRIMARY ELECTION LAW
FIRST MEETING OF COMMISSION IN
THE INTEREST OF MEASURE.
A Permanen Organization Formed
mittees Appointed.


election law. resulted in the appointment
of an executive and advisory committee,
whose business it will be to prepare a bill
TO submit to the commission which has
taken the matter in charge. The executive
committee is composed of William Fortune,
A. l.. Mason, ]. L. Mccullough, C. N.
Thompson, Joseph A. Minturn. S. Il.
Morss, A. ID. Ogborn. Eben Wolcott. f. A.
Perkins, Clarence Gaumer. T. Il. Crit
fifth, c. ]. Murphy, M. A. Chapman, L. u.
Barry and Frank E. Gavin. The advisory
committee is r. o. Hawkins, f. II. Bundy,
Charles S. Hernly, Parks NJ. Martin, John
w. Kern, w. L. Taylor. Merrill Moores,
a. e. Ayres, Joseph b. Healing and
Joseph III. Shea.
The conference lasted the greater part of
the day. 1t was composed of three different
committees which constituted a commits
sion. In the conference were two represen-
tatives from the State Federation OF Labor,
representatives from the State Board of
Commerce and members of the committee
appointed some time ago by Charles S.
Hernly. chairman of the Republican State
committee. The Federation of Labor was
represented by Clarence Gaumer and T.. j.
Collins. The members of the Hernly COM
mittee present were Noah L. Rogers, OF
Greensburg; Baxter Vestal, of Plainfeld;
Jospeh A. Minturn, of Indianapolis; T.. T..
Neal. OF Noblesville; A. Nj. Reyes, of Dana;
{. n. Thompson, and E.. 3. Martindale, OF
Indianapolis; Edward A. Remy, of Sey-
s Mouf' 81 . a, kaqtz, OF Kok9mo; Amos
Wheeling; A. D.. Ogborn. of New Castle;
Eben III. Wolcott. of " olcott; n. a. Nc
cam, OF Crawfordsville: Nj. w. Pershing,
of Upton; +. j. Grubbs, of Lafayette;
James S. Barcus, of Terre Haute; Frank
Singleton, of Martinsville. The State Board
or Commerce was represented by the fol-
lowing members of the executive commit
tee. William Fortune. T.. Il. Griffith, NJ. a.
Chapman and c. j. Murphy. j.. Il. McCul-
Tough was present as the representative of
the Commercial Club.
The conference was called TO order by
President Fortune, of the State Board of
Commerce. who explained the purpose of
the meeting. In referring to the work the
commission would probably have to do
would be satisfactory he said: I'm my
own study of the problem I nave been
much impressed with its perplexities. 1t
seemed to me in. the early stages a simple
proposition-so simple that theoretically
the fundamental principles can be stated
In three brief propositions. First, registra-
ton; second, direct vote for party nomi-
nees; third, all primaries to be held at the
same time with the same safeguards for
voting provided at final electionS-but care
full examination has developed almost be-
wildering difficulties in connection with
some OF the most important provisions.
Do not understand hat these difficulties
are hopeless. 1 do not so regard them bur
they will test the resources OF this com
mission in devising the best solution of the
problem and it must be expected that when
the best conclusions are reached there Will
be room for plausible argument in oppo-
sition. If, however, the determined plan,
though open to criticism, is still mani
testify better han any proposed SubSti-
tute, it is entitled to fair trial"
PERMANENT OFFICERS ELECTED.
The conference was converted into a per-
manent organization with the election OF
Harry s. New. of Indianapolis. president;
Frank 1. Grubbs, of Lafayette, secretary.
and H.. H. Hanna, Of Indianapolis, treas
rrer. The following vice presidents were
named: First district, c. j. Murphy, of
Evansville; Second district, ]. c.. Freeman.
of Linton; Third district, George w. Self,
OF Corydon; Fourth district, Noah I. Rog-
ers, of Greensburg; Fifth district. James S.
Francis s. Roberts, of Connersville; Sew
enth district, George G. Tanner, of Indian
apolis; Eighth district, Judge A Q: Marsh,
OF Winchester; Ninth district, Nj. w. Per-
shing, of Upton; Tenth district William
Austin, of Rensselaer,; Eleventh district,
Warren Bigler, of Wabash; Twelfth dis
trict, R. s.. Taylor, of Fort Wayne; Thir-
tenth district, Charles Miller, of Goshen.
Charles S. Hernly, chairman or the State
Republican committee, who appointed a
committee to take part in the conference,
was not present, but sent his regrets. He
has been absent from the city for several
DAYS. The commission discussed topics I'M
der the following heads: "Direct voting or
the delegate system. Shall primaries of all
parties be held the same day? Enrolment
of voters and registration for election. How
shall the expense be borne? Machine vot-
ing. Addresses from authors of bills. led
by J.. A. Minturn, of Indianapolis. III. S.
New. as president OF the organization, de-
clared that something should be done to
better the conditions that exist in the
larger cities of the State in regard to the
holding Of primaries. He spoke more es-
pecially of Indianapolis and Marion
county, where the conditions are known TO
be bad in both Republican and Democratic
primaries. He thought Ii probable that a
primary election law would not be neces-
sary for all of the counties in the State.
Mr.. New said IL 1t were possible to make
such a law he would prefer one that pro-
vided for nominations by the direct vote of
the people instead OF by delegate conven-
ton. a. A. Mccain, of Crawfordsville, said
tina so far as Montgomery county was con-
cerned they need no primary election laws,
as the primaries in that county are orderly,
dignified affairs, in which corruption does
not often figure. For the larger cities of
the State he thought a primary election law
of some kind might be a good thing
DIFFICULT JOB PREDICTED.
1t seemed to be the opinion of a num-
Der OF those present ina the CoHiihiSSiOH
would have a difficult job in forcing a pri-
mary election law on the people of all the
counties. NJ. w. Pershing, Of Upton, had
emphatic views on the question. He par
ticularly objected to the proposition OF
William Fortune that all the political par
ties should hold their primaries on the same
CAV and at the same place. Mr.. Fortune
was. however, not of opinion that the vot-
ing should be done by secret ballot. He
rather liked the law Of another State that
eauired the voter to announce himself
when he went into the booth at a primary
election. He would then be given the ballot
he asked for. There was considerable dis
cussion over the primary election bill pre-
pared by Representative Minturn. Mr.. Min
turn gave q synopsis OF his bill. Ii pro-
vides for q secret ballot.
Judge T.. B.. Martindale doubted If it
would be a good thing for all the political
parties TO hold their primaries at the
same place. He feared there would be
trouble among the voters. He thought,
however. that all the nominations should be
made the same day. On the question OF
voting machines il was suggested by Mr..
Martindale that the primary election law,
If adopted, should contain a clause making
If legal to use these machines as soon as
the people feel that they are perfect and
should be used. There was a good deal of
discussion as TO the expense of primary
elections. whether or not the candidates
should bear the expense or whether il
should be borne by the people, as in the
general elections. or by each political party.
At the conclusion of the discussion the
chairman announced the committees who
are to prepare a bill which will be sub
mitted TO the commission. The executive
committee will meet in the assembly room