The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-27
PROTECTION OF PRIMARY ELEC-
TIONS.

An evening paper. in commencing the
primary election law. remarks that in time
those who derived advantage from the old
system may ~coatrive TO beat the provisions
of the law in its execution. This is true,
and while they may not be able to revive
the outrages of the old system, under
which, in many instances, Democratic sa-
loon keepers contracted to furnish a given
number of voters to carry a precinct over
it's rightful Republican voters, the same
class of men can commit extensive frauds
If the precinct officers are in such a con-
spiracy or even careless. Under the pres
ent law any man can go TO the precinct
primary and claim the right TO vote after
giving his name and his place of residence,
the assumption being that he is Of the
party holding the primary. While the law
provides for c~hallengers, it is not likely to
be exercised to any extent unless the sew
eral aspirants have them at voting placs
where fraud is expected. Consequently, if
precinct election officers do not feel author
lied to catechise those offering TO vote, a
considerable number of fraudulent votes
might be cast. All must see this weak
ness in any primary law. and it is not
escaped by having the primaries of both
parties held at the same place and at the
same time. 1t is a weakness which it may
not be possible to overcome by legislative
action. 1t seems, however, that the city
or county committees can prevent frauds
of that character if they are in earnest
20 maintain fair primary elections.
At the last general election each party
made a poll of every precinct in the State,
in which the party afiliation and the resi-
dence OF every voter is given. These polls
are as complete as canvasses can make
hem-so complete. in fact. that 1t is fair
to make the poll OF each party a voting
list for the next primary, except as to re-
movals. If a copy of that poll-book should
be given to every set of primary officers,
with instructions from the executive COM
mittee to verify the name. residence and
party utilization, when any two members
of the election board do not know the per-
son offering TO vote, fraud would be al
the list of the party voters of the pre-
ced1ng election In the precinct II should
be prima facie evidence of his right to vote
i'm the primary. If. on the other hand, the
name and place of residence given by the
person who would vote are not i'm the poll
book. he should be required to explain.
IL found in the list of the opposite party,
he should be prosecuted. II the man who
would vote claims to have been a resident
i'm another precinct at the previous cleo
ton. his statement could be verified. by
telephone or other communication with the
primary board in the precinct i'm which he
claims to nave voted. If his statements
as to residence and party are verified he
should be permitted to vote; if not, he
should be informed of the penalties of the
law and dismissed.
Attention is called to this matter while
/. is yet fresh in the minds OF the people.
At the same time the Journal would no.
tify those persons who would beat the law
that the beating of it will beat the party.
The Republican voters who care only for
the nomination of competent and faithful
men having discovered that a fair primary
can be held. will never again be bound by
the action of such primaries as were quite
the rule when there was n contest the past
few years. The primary election must Be
as carefully and legally conducted as is the
general election. because it is as important