The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-22
THE IMPORTANT QUESTION IN Leg
ISLATIRES.

The law-governed primary is a question
attracting the attention of several Legis-
latures. The Legislatures of the States
which have them are not considering their
repeal. but amendments to make them
more effective. 1t is a mistake 10 assume
that the mass of voters are not in favor
of them because they do not speak. They
are not about the Legislature because
they have affairs to which they must give
their attention. The men who do speak are
often against any control of primaries be-
cause the present system suits them and
may be tolerated by the voters in the larger
part of the counties where the abuses
people desire the best things in politics,
and the present primary in the larger cities
is the worst thing. 1T is a well-known
fact" says an exchange. that the present
his popularity and his office TO the fact
that he originated and championed the law
in that State for the Australian ballot at
the primary election" In Massachusetts
some unreasonable provisions. The Illinois
General Assembly has before it a bill to
remodel the primary election laT. That
bill follows the Minnesota law. except that
it provides in the case of larger conven-
tons that delegates may be elected, with
proviso that if the action of delegate con-
vention is not acceptable. a specified num-
Der of voters of the party can secure
nominating election under the auspices OF
the election authorities.
But the point desired to be presented is
that the people in the larger cities of the
State, and notably in Indianapolis, are in
favor of a primary election law for the
reason that under present conditions the
majority of the voters in cities have no
influence in the selection of candidates for
county and city officers. If they went to
primaries in which there is contest they
would be voted down by organized gangs
going from precinct to precinct. In the
past two years scores of Republicans, in
the knowledge of the Journal, have de-
clared that they will not attend another
primary until they are conducted under
some power of law which will protect them
in their rights When Republicans cease
attending primaries they will not go TO
the polls many times thereafter to ratify
nominations made by others. Besides,
there is a growing feeling among intelli-
gent men in both parties that they are
better qualified to select candidates for
county officers. mayor and other municipal
officers direct than are delegates selected
by a few persons. delegates, too, who are
professionals, and are delegates for per-
sonal advantage.
habitants is unsatisfactory, expensive in
efficient and corrupt. In the larger cities
there is no exception. The badness and the
tendency to worse conditions begins in the
primary. With all the corrective organiZa-
tions, Chicago has been unable for years
to get a Board of Aldermen a majority of
which has not been venal. This is because
men who seek such positions for considera-
tons of revenue spend money to carry the
primaries in both parties. and carry them
by the agency of organized bands of
toughs. The legal primary is the first step
to municipal reform.