The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-27

The Republican primaries this afternoon
and tonight should be fully attended, for
the reason that they mark the beginning
Of experiment designed 10 insure the
fair conduct of primaries. The precinct pri-
maries will be held from 4 o'clock p. m.
until o'clock p. m, and the voting will be
by ballot. The intention of the law is that
none but Republicans residing in any one
precinct shall vote in that precinct for its
member Of the city committee. The section
Of the law relating to primary elections
which sets forth the qualifications Of voters
in such primaries is as follows:
Section T. All elections for such commit
teemen shall be by ballot, each qualified,
legal voter of the precinct, who, at the last
preceding election. voted for the regularly
nominated candidates of the party and az
filiated with the party holding such cleo
ton for such committeeman, shall be en-
titled TO vote at such election; any quail
ned legal voter in such precinct may cnai.
lenge any voter. or any person who snail
offer TO vote at such election, and when so
challenged, such person shall not be en-
titled TO vote until he has made affidavit
that he Is qualified legal voter of the pre-
cinct; that at the last preceding election he
affiliated with the party holding such cleo
ton; that he voted for the regular noni-
nees of such party at such election; and
that he intends TO support and vote for the
regular nominees of such party at the COM
ing election.
If the Republicans in the different pre-
cincts desire to manage their own affairs.
no outsider can vote in any precinct. The
vocation of taking bands of men from pre-
cinct to precinct TO overwhelm the vote of
resident Republicans is at an end. Indeed,
under the present law. such voting is an
offense punishable by fine and imprison-
ment. The law in this regard is explicit, as
the following sections show;
Section H. Should any person not having
legal qualifications of a voter, vote or of
fer to vote at such primary election, he
shall be fined not more than $500 and not
less than $40 and imprisoned not more than
disfranchised and rendered incapable of
holding any office of trust or profit for any
determinate period.
Sec. 10. Any person knowingly voting,
or Offering to vote at a primary election. in
any precinct. ward township except the
one in which he resides, shall be fined not
more than 500 and not less than So and
imprisoned in the county Jail for not more
than one year and not less than one month,
and disfranchised and rendered incapable
of holding any office of trust or profit for
any determinate period.
Sec. 16. Whoever votes more than once
at any primary election in this State either
at the same precinct, or ward, or different
| precincts or wards. shall be fined not more
| than $1,000. nor less than $50. imprisoned in
| the state prison not more than five years
nor less than one year, and disfranchsed
and rendered incapable of holding any Of
| fee OF trust or profit for any determinate
| period.
| From the foregoing 1t will be seen that
| promiscuous voting at primaries Is no
| longer a pastime or joke. but a crime TO
| which real penalties are attached These
penalties express the intelligent public SEN
timent regarding the abuses which have
| long been connected with the primary.
| They mean that. at last, the Legislature OF
Indiana has, so far as the larger cities are
| concerned. put the AK at the root of evil
| methods in public affairs. namely. the pri-
\ mary Republicans should encourage this
experiment by attending the primaries to-
| day.