The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-22
Declaration Made that Character OF
Will Not he Changed.
LEGAL PHASE OF SITUATION
EMINENT LAWYERS SAY CHAIRMAN
HAS POWER TO POSTPONE.
Logsdon Says He Wishes TO Consult
Attorneys-Mayor Expected Home
To-Day or To-Morrow.

The committee of seven. composed Of
DR.. Henry Jameson, Thomas c. Day, DR..
II. w. Ridpath. Chaplin C. Foster, NJ H.
Camden. Frank L. Littleton and II. L.
Hewitt, appointed at Friday nights meeting
OF Republican voters who are remonstrat-
ing against holding the city nominating
convention next Saturday, visited Chair
man Logsdon. OF the city central commit
tee, yesterday Mr.. Logsdon was found
at his office I'm the De Soto build
ing. The committee discussed the post
ponement question with him and Chair
man Logsdon agreed to meet the committee
again tomorrow morning at II O'Clock to
receive the signed protests. With this un-
derstanding the committee left and the re-
monstrating Republicans went actively TO
work to secure signatures 10 the petitions.
They were reported as meeting with abund-
ant success.
DR.. jameson, chairman OF the committee,
was its spokesman. After the meeting with
Chairman Logsdon he said the committee
had convinced the chairman that IL would
be well to receive the protest and to give it
consideration.
Other members OF the committee s4id Mr..
Logsdon met the committee with a decla-
mitted, as he was acquainted with its char :
acter and that he was ready to say that
the convention date would not be changed.
DIR. Jameson suggested that IL would not be
proper for him, as chairman OF the Repub--
lican committee, TO disregard a petition
that might bear the signatures of consid-
erable portion of the Republican voters.
Mr.. Logsdon said no Republican had pro-
fa1 sIo T.
that had elapsed. DIR. Jameson said week
was a short time in a political campaign
and that the protestants were at that min
ute represented before him.
REQUIRES LEGAL ADVICE
Mr.. Logsdon then said he was not sure
of the legal right to postpone the conven-
ton after it had been once called He
said he would require careful legal guild
ance as to this phase Of the question. DR..
Jameson asked Chairman Logsdon IL. in
the event his attorneys held the opinion
that the convention date could be legally
changed. he would urge fits postponement.
Mr.. Logsdon was reported as saying that
he would make no promise on that part OF
the question. but he advised the committee
that it would not be well for them to lose
two days in which they might build UP
their organization.
Mr.. Logsdon. after much discussion OF
the situation, said he would, as before
stated, receive the protest tomorrow.
The committee was dubious about the out
come of the protest last night, but IL is
not yet ready 10 believe II would be ignored
when presented tomorrow. The committee
believes that the quantity or signatures
and the standing of the signers will affect
ers;o the result IN 10 large way; Upon & this pre-
pressed vigorously and will be continued
to-day. The petitions are TO be assem-
~ - 1-I.
tomorrow morning and taken TO the city
committee by the special committee OF
the demonstrators. The action of the chair
man and other officers OF the city COM
mittee and the primary commission. should
they act together, will be announced not
later than o'clock and will be reported TO
a meeting of protesting Republicans TO be
held at the Denison tomorrow night.
The question OF legality raised by Chair
man Logsdon is not regarded as important
mary election law governing the calling OF
delegate convention Is as follows:
WHAT PRIMARY LAW SAYS.
Sec. 8. Should such meeting OF precinct
committeeman. provided for In Section 6
herein, determine to make nominations Of
party candidates by delegate convention.
such county OF city chairman SHALL not less
than two weeks prior the date fixed for
such delegate convention. issue a call for
primaries TO be held In the several precincts
for the election of delegates TO such con-
vention. The number OF delegates to which
each precinct shall be entitled shall be de-
termined by the Board os Primary Election
Commissioners. Such call shall also fx the
time of holding such delegate convention,
provided that the same shall be held not
more than twenty-four hours after the
election of such delegates"
This section is understood to give the
chairman OF the city committee the abso-
lutte right 10 issue the call and fix the date
OF the primaries and the convention The
primary commission in reference TO such
matters is merely advisory, and IL Is held
that the chairman only can decide the ques-
ton of primary and convention dates.
THE primary commission. said Roscoe
o. Hawkins last nigat. lis not given the
authority TO decide when the primaries or
the convention shall be held Its duties are
TO administer the law relating TO the con-
duct of the primaries, the preparation OF
the ballots. the count and the deciding OF
contests over committeeman and delegates
The law is absolutely clear on that point"
'.Can the chairman legally change the
they have been announcedy
'It is automatic that the grant of power
or authority TO issue call or fix date
carries with IL the power or authority TO
withdraw the call or 10 alter the dates.
There can be no controversy; as ! see IT, on
election law, no impediment 10 the chair
man postponing the convention and the
primaries IL he deems II proper so 10 do.
VIEWS OF OTHER LAWYERS
other lawyers who examined the section
quoted said there was no question as 10
the latitude allowed the chairman 10 with
draw the call for the purpose of postpon-
ing the convention 10 a later date.
Mayor Bookwalter Is expected home to-
day or tomorrow. He left on the night
of the primaries for the election OF pre-
cinct committeemen-March Z. The call
for the city convention and all the conse-