The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-04
Chairman Logsdon, OF Republican
City ~mmitt Made ia While
Commission Was I'm Session.
A MANDAMUS SUIT MONDAY
1T WILL BE DRoUGHT III SUPPLIES
n STILL WITHHELD.
Contract Awarded for $500 Ballots
for Special observation-disclosures
Meeting-poIiticaI Notes.

The Republicans made the first move yes-
terday in their plans 20 test the legality Of
the action OF the city Council i'm appoint
Ing election Inspectors Tor the special elec-
tion "a he held in the Fifteenth ward and
for the general city election 10 be held in
October.
a meeting OF the election commissioners
was held al the city clerks Office yesterday
afternoon FOR tho purpose OF organization.
and the Republican city committee being
appraised OF what was going on. decided
that the opportunity was too good TO be
! lost.
Chairman Logsdon hastily drew up a
formal demand requesting that the board
OF election commissioners turn over 10 the
inspectors elected by she City Council for
the special election 10 he held IN the Fiji
teenth ward ali OF the election supplies
to be used in such election. Secretary Muir
! lost no time in getting over 20 the clerks
office. arriving just after tho board had
organized by elccting John II. spence
DemD president and City Clerk Geckler
Dem.) secretary, Merrill Moores. the Re
publican member OF the commission, being
unplaced.
Mr.. Muir formally read the demand TO the
board and then sat down 10 await develop
ments. For a while both Mr.. Spence and
Mr.. Geckler seemed nonplused. Mr..
Moores, who was in on the game. seemed
to enjoy their discontinue. but said MOTH
ing. as IL was not his move. Finally Mr..
Geckler awoke from his trance and moved
that the demand which Chairman Logsdon
had made on the part of the inspectors be
laid on the table. Mr.. Spence voted with
him ard the motion was carried. IL was
then decided TO hold another meeting next
| Monday afternoon and definitely settle the
matter one way or the other.
a MANDAMUS SUIT.
II the commission refuses 10 turn over the
| supplies to the Republican inspectors a
suit in mandamus will be filed without de-
lay. On the other hand. IL the election
commission persists in laying the demand
Of the Republican inspectors on the table
such action will be taken as an equivalent
TO a refusal TO comply with the demand
and d suit I'm mandamus will follow in
either event. 1t is not believed. however
that the Democrats will attempt 10 post
pone the matter, as they profess TO he as
anxious TO have IL settled as the Republic
ans. and ii is very probable that az the next
meeting. which is 10 be held Monday after
noon. the Democratic member OF the COM
mission VIII refuse to comply with the de-
mand Of Chairman Logsdon in order that
the matter may be taken into court on q
mandamus proceeding.
Notwithstanding the fact that an ordi-
nance has been passed by the Council au-
thorizing the Use Of voting machines in
the special election TO be held IN the Fiji
tenth ward. the election commission yes
terday awarded to the Sentinel Printing
Company n contract for the printing OF
$500 tickets 10 be used In the election. Mr..
Moores. a member OF the commission. said
that the election law made no provision for
doing away with the printed ballots, and
IL was deemed essential to have them on
hand IN case something occurred that the
voting could not be carried on with the
machines.
If one of the machines would break the
voting would have 20 be completed by bal
lot. The purchase of the ballots means
that little. If any. expense will be saved
to the city by the use OF the voting ma
chimes.