The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-04
A FAITHFUL OBSERVANCE OF THE
PRIMARY LAW.

The canvass Of the aspirants for the
nominations TO be made at the primary
election to be held March il is without
precedent 1t indicates the complete faith
Of the large number of candidates and
their friends in the success of the Repub-
licans in Marion county next November.
So deep and general an interest is liable
TO lead the friends of candidates 10 resort
to methods which were sanctioned by the
Gu primaries, when all sorts of unfairness
was practiced until 1t came to pass that
thousands of sturdy Republicans refused to
attend. The present primary election law
was designed TO prevent frauds and abuses
which grew up under the old system and
TO substitute instead an election protected
by law and conducted in such manner
that the result will be nominations by
Republican voters. Such is the purpose of
the law, and should there be any deviation
therefrom it will be violation of law.
1t is of the utmost Importance to the
well-being of the Republican party in this
county and in the State that the primary
elections in the precincts shall be man
place, the utmost care should be exercised
to secure a legal vote There is a class Of
Democrats who would like to vote in these
primaries. and will do so if they are not
made to believe that the chances are in
favor of punishment for such action. There
are some Republicans who would like to
vote in two precincts or more if it should
be made for their interest to do so. Last
October the Republicans had a poll made
of every precinct in the city There have
not been many changes since that time
so that it may fairly be assumed that the
voter whose name is not on the Republican
list at that time should be carefully looked
after before he is allowed to vote. The
election extends over sufficient time to al
low challengers to challenge half the voters
il: a precinct. 1t was complained that in
the primaries last fall the precinct of
ficers i'm a few cases forgot their duties
as sworn officers to assist favored can
didates. The county organization should
not only take the utmost precautions to
prevent any irregularity, but it should Of
fer rewards for evidence which will convict
for any violation of the law.
1t is of the utmost Importance as a mat
ter of justice to the several aspirants that
these primaries shall be conducted i'm the
letter and the spirit of the law. The de-
feat or success of this or that aspirant is
OF minor Importance when the election is
fairly conducted. But it is of great i'm
portance to the future of the Republican
party that its primaries in Marion county
shall be conducted that none but Re
publicans living in the voting districts shall
vote in them, and that the vote of every
Republican shall be counted as deposited
Such "a primary election will be worth
many votes to the Republican party.
1t should be added that much solicitude
has been expressed by the friends of some
candidates about the voting of a large
number of conservative Republicans who
are sometimes sneered al as 1.-The best
element" They should know that the pres
ent primary election law was enacted upon
their insistence, and they should also
know and feel that if they all go to the
polls on March II and vote for the best
men who aspirants the men for whom
they vote will be nominated because they
are the majority. Let no unworthy aspi-
rant count upon the failure of 1.-The best
element" to do its full duty