The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-09
Vincent Clifford Reviews the Work
ings of the Joss Law i'm Its
Recent Test.
PROF. ]. A. WOODBURY. HEARD
DIsCOURAGING WORDS OF JOHN L.
RUPE, OF RICHMOND.
Chairman Harris Believes in n Full
and Free observation-disclosures
err Meeting Called.


by speakers at the meeting of the Com
mercial Club primary law commission last
night. OF the half dozen speakers all but
one had something TO say of the manner
in which party primaries really work rather
than how they should work Practical
party men gave their views frankly on the
question for the benefit of the commission.
pointing out the glaring irregularities of
systems with which they were familiar and
making valuable suggestions as TO how
these defects might be remedied. The meet
ing was in the nature of an experience"
meeting, and as such was warmly com
mended by Chairman Addison c. Harris,
who declared his belief that in cleaning
facts from the experience OF practical men
the commission would attain Its object more
quickly and satisfactorily than in any other
way. He suggested that the meetings be
continued. and the night OF April p. Tues
day. was selected the next meeting
night of the commission. Secretary Hunt
will invite men well known in the State
and city to give their views on the work
ings OF primary systems to speak on that
evening.
Among those who spoke last night on the
general subject of How Primaries Work
University. OF the chair of history in that
institution: Vincent C. Clifford. of Indian
apolis: John L. Rupe. of Richmond; Judge
NJ A. Chapman, of Anderson, and Chairman
Harris There were present at the meeting
r. o. Hawkins. A. c. Harris. John Sher-
wood, Vincent Clifford, NJ. A. Chapman. o.
II. Carson. a. Q. Marsh. NJ. n. a. Walker,
J. A Woodburn, Edward Insley. c. a.
I'm I nd mr. C,pOTop
L. Hunt.
WORKINGS OF JOSS LAW.
Chairman Harris introduced Mr.. Clifford
as one who might be presumed to speak
with accuracy and knowledge on the real
workings of the present primary system
of Marion county. Mr.. Clifford responded
with an address in which. speaking from
a partisan standpoint. he pointed out as
he had observed them the results. good and
bad. OF the Joss law. He gave also his
views as 10 what the proposed reform
should include Mr.. Clifford said:
THE results hoped to be obtained by the
primary law, take it, are the following:
TO give every member or a pontlcaI
party an opportunity TO express most 1uliy
and effectively his preference as to his
party nominations.
ITO induce. as far as possible. every
member OF the party TO avail himself of
that opportunity and participate in the
selection OF his party candidates
TO prevent and render ineffective every
resort to states, to the improper use OF
money and all other corrupt and ques-
tionabie methods of securing the nominal
ton.
nominations all persons not bona fide MEM
bers of that party; and all influences not
IN harmony with the party or not propos-
ing to abide by the results, and at least
passively. If not actively, support the party
nominations
ticket more exactly representative OF the
wishes OF the party and more likely OF
success at the election than by the old, or
convention method In so far as any prim-
airy law falls short OF accomplishing the
above results. il is bad, and in so far as
IL does secure these results IL is good. From
personal experince and observation think
the following results may be charged and
credited TO the present primary law, and
l might add that many of those results, in
my opinion. both good and bad, will follow
any primary law:
1T brought out the party vote. The timid
and fastidious voter had his opportunity
TO vote without freight and hope and be-
lieve without any great amount OF physical
moral contamination. (This class of vot-
ers have the right OF suffrage and must be
considered. but they will not be really in
GENES fact and then they may take part
and probably will. just Houtspurs Fop
would have been soldier but for the vile
guns.)
UNUSUAL EXPENSE.
THE expense OF the selection OF candi-
dates TO the party, and to the candidates,
was doubled and trebled over the expense
OF the convention method, both In time and
money. The corruption, both direct and in
direct, was far and a way more than by
the convention method. AS many, and it is
probable, more OF the opposite political
faith and OF no political faith participated,
as heretofore did by the convention method.
ct is said that 900 more votes were cast
at the Republican primary south of Wash
ington street and west OF Senate avenue
than were cast for the last Republican can
didate for mayor In the same precincts)
Nearly one-half the nominees received
less than a majority of the votes cast-as
low as one-fourth OF the vote securing the
nomination in some instances. The second
choice of the voter was lost. the party
thereby closing, in many instances, the
best judgment of the voter. For, in possibly
One-half Of the cases. the first preference
Is dictated. not by the voters judgment as
10 the qualifications OF the candidate for
the good of the party. but by personal &C
Quaintance for promise. or some other
Indifferent motive. The second choice. in
most instances. is the choice of the judg-
ment based on the fitness and qualifications
of the man both for the Office and as a
candidate. states were as common and as
successful as under the old system of con-
yention Trades were made and the goods
delivered, but in my opinion, not so COM
pletely nor so effectively as in the cOnven-
ton. The corruption was more insidious
and more widespread and more Injurious.
both TO the party and TO the body petite
than under the convention method
ReVerting now to my statement as to
the results TO be secured by the primary
law. | am forced 10 these conclusions TO
the credit OF the law: Ii does and did give
every member Of the party an opportunity
10 express II not fully. yet directly in
most Instances effectively, his preference
II did. 10 a far greater extent than the
convention method, induce a general par
tlcipatiOn In the selection OF candidates
To its discredit are the following results:
1t did not prevent or mitigate the resort
10 states. nor the improper use OF money
nor trades nor moral intimidation and
other questionable methods. II did not
exclude all persons not members OF the
party. nor apparently come nearer to so
doing than the old convention method. Not
only that. but IL positively increased the
. participation Of influences not In harmony
with the party and not intending TO abide
the results OF the primary. / refer espe-
cially In this 10 the independent voter and
the purchasable voter, and TO the indepen-
dent press and the purchasable press. And
finally. IL did not secure ticket more rep
resentative of the party or more likely of
election than would, in all probability. have
been secured BY the old convention method
Many OF the results above noted would
probably accompany any primary law
Some however. arise from patent defects
in the present law. among which. IL seems
10 me. the following are most obvious: The
failure or the present law to provide for
the payment OF the expenses OF holding
the primary out OF the public funds and
by expenses I mean TO include all neces-
eary printing rent OF room. nav of MEM