The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-08
Plan for Purifying Primaries Which
Ii Believed tn Meet Most CLAIR
ing Evils.
SUBSTANCE OF AMENDMENTS
COMMITTEE SEEKS TO OBvIATE OBJ
JECTIoNs OF CITIZENS.
Bill VIII he Center of Interest I'm
Senate This Week-Pension
Fund Bill.

The primary election bill, originally in
troduced by Senator Thompson and radi-
cally amended by the Senate committee
on elections, OF which he is chairman, will
be one OF the most important matters of
legislation to be considered during the COM
ing week. IT will be called up on second
reading tomorrow and unless there is
disposition to amend It further IT will be
placed on its passage Tuesday or wednes-
day.
The bill applies only to Marion and Van
derburg counties and is optional with the
rest of the State. 1t is bulky document
of nineteen printed pages, consequently
it cannot be published in full. but Senator
Thompson has prepared a synopsis Of its
essential provisions az follows:
Section provides for a party board OF
primary commissioners for the Democratic
and Republican parties, to consist OF five
members EACH who are to be party men
and who shall rotate in office They are ap-
pointed by the Circuit Judge. but care has
been taken not to invest them with too
much power, so as to make the Office of
Judge political one.
Section requires the board to issue a
election for an election for precinct COM
mitteemen to serve two years. This cleo
ton is not to be held under the provisions
Of the Australian ballot law, as 1t would
be too expensive. The primary board ap-
points the officials for this election. In adj
dition to voting for precinct committeeman
the electors at the same time vote on the
proposition whether candidates shall be
elected by delegate convention or by direct
also stated in this section. The county or
city chairman has power, II the committee
thinks any precinct committeeman is guilty
of any misconduct or breach of fealty, TO
remove him. Heavy penalties are provided
for the acceptance by committeeman OF any
bride.
Section provides for the counting Of the
votes and the returns, for contests, etc.
Section Con call OF the primary board
the precinct committeeman meet and elect
a chairman, vice chairman. secretary and
treasurer who shall constitute the central
committee of the city or county. and the
chairman may appoint an executive or ad-
visory committee as he sees fit. Not more
| than one party primary election snail be
/ held on the same day.
Section cuts down the primary districts
as in the original bill to the regular pre-
cincts established for general elections.
! Section provides for the filing of notices
! of candidacy and nominations by petition.
/ The primary board estimates the cost of
| the primary not payable by the county and
the candidates must pay their pro rata cost
| not later than five days before the printing
of the tickets The board prepares the bal
| lot, placing the names of the office groups
| in the order in which they are filed. 1t
causes the ballots 10 be printed, the names
| TO be alternated in regular sequence so
! that as nearly as possible an equal number
of tickets shall be printed with each can
didate's name at the head of the group.
Section 9.-The chairman of the central
| committee dominates to the primary board
| the election officers and unless they ap-
| pear unfit or refuse to act the board shall
| appoint them. Voting places are to be
the country, where the polls may be kept
| open from a m. to p. m The election
| officers are to have the duties of those in
| general elections, except a challenger and
| supervisor Zone person) is recognized as
| a member OF the election board, his special
| duty being to prevent illegal voting. If the
party take poll before the primary it may
! be used.
SUITABLE VOTING PLACES.
Sec. 10. The Board OF County Commits
sioners must procure suitable voting places
for the primaries. furnish election booths,
ballot boxes and bags, and pay three cleo
ton officers 81 each and no more. This is
the cost to the county. 1t was attempted
to reduce that cost in the original bill by
L
afterward determined that 1t would not be
wise. as 1t would lead to confusion and
larger opportunity for illegal voting. A
primary is as important as the general
election and its cost is not the first con-
sideration.
Section II applies the general election
law TO the booths. rooms, etc.
Section II incorporates the Australian
law modified TO apply to the method of vot-
ing. providing for a secret ballot.
Section Is concerns the illiterate voter
and applies the general law.
Section "A provides for the count watch
ers, preservation of ballots. canvass, ETC.
borrowing from the Australian law.
Section Is provides the method of hold
ing delegate convention: Not many rules
stipulated how vacancies in delegations are
to be filed and other matters of regulation
are provided
'Sec. is. The chairman of the county
committee determines the representation
1 based on the number OF voters.
Sec. IL. Persons receiving the highest
number of votes for delegates are to be de.
| clared elected and In direct primaries the
person receiving the highest number OF
votes is 10 be the nominee. In the delegate
convention the person receiving the ma
jority of the votes cast Is the nominee.
Section Is provides the method by which
the operation Of the law may be extended
to other counties-by resolution of the party
committees.
PENALTIES ENUMERATED.
Section ls provides penalty for at.
tempting TO vote in the wrong precinct, oil
at a primary OF the opposite party.
Section 20 Furnishes voting more thar
once.
Sections q and Is declare a false affi.
davit to be a perjury. punish willful neg