The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-19
Republicans Reconsider Hasty Action
but Democrats Force the Issue and
Get Their Quietus.
NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENT BILL
MIR. wOLCOTTs MEASURE GOES
THROUGH AFTER HARD FIGHT.
Mi1burn's Plan to Regulate the Trusts
important New Bills I'm House
and Senate-Gossip.

Senator Thompson. OF Indianapolis. won
notable victory for his amended primary
election bill yesterday. 1t was passed by
the Senate with hardly the shadow of oppo-
sition, the vote being IS to 2. The bill for
the publication of primary elections In
Indiana met the appreciation not only Of
the Republican members, but OF ell the
Democrats save two-Lawler. of Salem. and
Thrals, of Hymera- The preponderance OF
votes in favor of the bill a pleasant
surprise to Senator Thompson, who ex
pected a fight and was prepared TO meet
it. The minority, however. was content
because amendments submitted by 1t were
accepted by Senator Thompson without de-
mur, and there was no disposition on the
part of the left side to block the progress
of the bill. On the contrary, all save the
two Democrats named expressed themselves
emphatically that the bill will be a good
thing for both parties, and that IL should
be given a fair chance. The objections
to the bill come from outside the Legis-
lature.
Amendments offered and accepted were
numerous. Senator Barcus came forward
early with one that vigo county be In
cluded within the scope OF the proposed
law. The amendment was adopted with
no opposition. Senator O'Brien then pro-
posed that boards of primary election COM
misioners shall consist OF three members
each, TO be selected by the circuit judge
from a list OF twenty names OF reputable
citizens submitted by the chairman OF the
snI sition to this amendment. Eight to or ppp1 ten
other changes were made. all or minor i'm
portance, before the bill was brought to
its passage.
LABOR OF MONTHS.
IT.. \; ~ a.
growth of Herculean labors. Months ago
| the Commercial Club interested itself In
| the plan to better the Joss law ard TO
| prepare a law that would meet all require
ments and solve. as nearly as possible, all
| problems. Addison C. Harris. as chairman
of commission composed OF many OF the
most prominent Republicans and Demo-
Gratis in the State, called possibly a dozen
meetings, at which every phase of the needs
| of the State as regards good primary law
were gone into. Finally the bill was pre-
| pared and introduced by Senator Thompson
| 1t objected to at an open meeting or
| the committee on elections by a number or
| citizens and radically amended. Yes
terday IL was amended again. and the bill
passed by the Senate is very unlike the orig
| inal bill.
"The people of Indiana do not realize.
perhaps. at the present time" said Senator
| Thompson yesterday, what an important
measure this primary bill is, They do not
stop to think, perhaps. that Il Affects every
State directly. Only when 1t comes to Sc
| lecting candidates under IL will the full
Importance Of the law be understood"
| Senator Thompson believes his measure
will meet with radical opposition IN the
| House and that ii will soon go to the Gov
ernor for his signature.
SYNOPSIS OF BILL.
The primary election bill. as passed yes
terday by the Senate after the various
amendments. now applies to Marion. Van
! derburg and Vigo counties only.
Fifteen days after it's taking effect The
! circuit judge appoints three members for
boards of primary commissioners for each
| party, Republican and Democrat. II is the
duty of the chairman Of each party to SUBJ
| NIT In writing a list Of at least twenty
/ names of persons who are eligible under
the bill for members of the board and the
| judge is to appoint three commissioners
The qualifications of these commissioners
| are that they are TO be reputable persons
who are well known as being regularly af-
| filated with such party and who are free
holders and not office holders and are not
| members of any political committee and
| who shall have resided I'm the county for
| a continuous period of eight years prior TO
| such appointment One commissioner holds
for one year, one two years and one three
Upon the notification of the party chair
man of a selection Of date the primary
| board is to issue call for election for
| precinct committeeman. and for this cleo
ton the chairmen nominate TO the primary
| board the election officers who are to be
| appointed unless they are UNFIT
Some detail Is provided as 10 the holding
OF this election. and IL is not TO be held un-
| der the Australian law, although the pri-
maries are 10 be held under that law as
| provided for further on in the bill. No two
| political parties shall hold their primaries
| on the same date. The primary boards pro-
vide the ballots on white paper for the
| election of precinct committeeman, and at
| that election the voters determine whether
| the coming primary is 20 be BY delegate
] convention or direct primary. III the voters
| i'm any precinct determine by majority
| that the primary Is to be by either method.
| then in the coming meeting OF the precinct
| committeeman the committeeman OF such
precinct is required to vote the preference
| Of the voters of his precinct on this ques-
| tion This avoids the tabulation OF the
| vote of all precincts. Any contest Is de-
termined by the primary board Within ten
| days after the election or precinct commit
| teemen they meet and elect chairman.
| vice chairman secretary and treasurer who
| shall constitute the county or city commit-
| tee and the chairman may appoint addition
| al committees
TIME OF PRIMARY.
The primary board gives notice OF the
time of holding the primary. not earlier
than the 1st OF May nor later than the
1st day of October. for general elections.
and an city elections not less than three
weeks nor more than five weeks prior to
the election
The provisions do not apply 10 the selec-
ton OF delegates to national. state or dis
trict conventions. The primary districts
are the same regular precincts in gen.
Any person desiring TO be a candidafs
files his written notice with the primary