The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-07
The Democrats Also Say They Are
UnfavorabIe tn Prolonged
Campaign.
ABOUT NEGLEY ORDINANCE
DEMOCRATIC COUNCILMEN SEEM TO
BE AFRAID OF 1T.
Requirements of the Primary EIec-
ton LAW Fruitful Theme for
Discussion Now.

There Is a sentiment among some OF the
leading Republicans in favor of very brief
city campaign this year The election will
take place on Oct. s. and some are in favor
OF postponing the nomination of candidates
Until the latter part of August. The Demo-
Gratis are not disposed TO have prolonged
campaign either, and it is likely that the
nominations on both sides may he delayed
much longer than usual this year.
Chairman Tanning of the Democratic city
committee. said. yesterday. that. although
he did not want 10 have a prolonged cam
paign the Democrats would in way be
guided by the action of the Republicans,
and while he was not in favor of nominat-
ing candidates too far ahead. he did not
want to arrange for campaign that would
be too short to give an opportunity for
studying the issues of the campaign thor
oughly. Chairman Tanning has not yet APP
pointed the election commissioners from his
party, which is necessary under the new
primary election law. One commissioner is
to be appointed from each ward. Chairman
Logsdon appointed his commissioners sew
eral weeks ago. Mr.. Tanning will make his
appointments within a few weeks. he says.
There is little political gossip going on
the party said, yesterday, that party work
ers do not seem To have got completely
rested yet from the work of the last nation
al campaign and they are in no hurry TO be-
gin a new campaign. There is also a feel
ing among Republicans that there is little
to be said until the city committee is re-
organized and it has been decided how the
nominations TO be made-whether by di-
rect vote of the people or by convention.
FATE OF THE ORDINANCE.
There can be little practical work done
toward reorganizng the committee until
the fate of Councilman Negley's redistrict-
ing ordinance is settled. This ordinance pro-
vides for a change in the boundaries
of the city precincts TO conform with the
boundaries used in the county elections. As
soon as this ordinance is either
adopted or defeated, the city COM
mittee may be reformed. To the
Republicans the ordinance seems harmless
enough, but the Democrats in the Council
appear TO be afraid of il. 1t is the opinion,
however, that the ordinance will pass safe
" enough. 1t is pointed out that in the
event the Negley ordinance does not pre-
vail il will likely be necessary TO make
some changes in some of the city precincts
on the North Side, some of them being too
cincts shall contain, as nearly as practi-
cable. two hundred voters, and no precinct
can legally have more than $50 voters. 1t Is
said that in some precincts on the North
Side, where there are large flats, there are
many more than the legal number of vot-
ers. The boundaries regulating county cleo
lions were changed last year and, conse-
quently, conform with the law as TO the
number of voters in each precinct.
The new primary election law requires
precinct committeeman 10 be chosen within
twelve weeks of the date of the election
Under this law the committeeman may be
chosen any time prior TO July 10. The law
further provides that, within ten days after
the committeeman are elected, a meeting
must be held for the organization of the
committee and the election of officers. AT
this meeting IL must be decided how the
nominate shall be made.
Among Republicans there is a strong SEN
timent in favor of making the nominations
by direct vote of the people at the prima-
ries. The city committeeman in both politi-
cal parties must be elected at primary cleo
tions, but it is optional with the different
political organizations whether or not they
nominate their regular candidates that way
Ii is extremely probable, however, that all
nominations will be made a the primaries