The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-19

pro~positions-irst, that the law passed by
the recent Legislature extending the terms
of certain county and judicial officers for
the purpose OF securing uniformity in the
date on which the terms of all such officers
should begin is unconstitutional, and, sec
ond, that the law extending the terms or
county assessors for a similar purpose Is
constitutional. Yesterday Alon5o Green
Smith, of this city, former attorney gen
eral, submitted an opinion TO the Demo-
cratic state committee on the county off,
GERS law in which he agrees with the Opin-
ion of Addison c.. Harris. rendered 10 the
Republican state committee several days
ago.
Il am satisfied from the examination 1
have made that the conclusion reached by
Mr.. Harris is correct" says Mr.. Smith,
and that this statute as a whole Is void
and should be d~isregarded by the people or
the state in making nominations of can
didates TO fil the various offices mentioned
in the act, unless it should in the mean
time be upheld by judicial decision.
The opinion of Mr.. Harris renders il I'M
necessary for me to enter into an extended
discussion of this subject. since | find that
from any point of view / would have TO ar
rive at the same conclusion reached by him.
and for your guidance | transmit TO you a
copy of his opinion and recommend that
terests OF the Democratic party In the COM
ing campaign"
The Republican state committee has al
ready notified the county organizations 10
proceed with the nomination of candidates
for the offices affected by the law just as II
the law had never been enacted. and the
Democratic state VIII take SINH
lar action at once. AS early as possible, as
already indicated in the Journal, a suit VIII
be brought TO test the law and the case
will be pushed through the courts in order
that a final decision from the supreme
Court may be secured at an early date. Inc
action will probably be instituted IN Ran
dolph county. Care will be taken In the
preparation of the papers for tins suit IN
order that the question or tn consJtu-
tionality of the law may be brought square
ly before the Supreme Court, SO that d oe-
cision may not be avoided on some technl-
cality. The county officers OF the state,
through the same organization with winch
they worked for the enactment OF the Jaw
last winter, will make a fight to uphold the
law in the courts.
In regard TO the law affecting the county
assessors Chairman Goodrich and Secre-
tary Sims, of the Republican state commit
tee, and Chairman O'Brien and Secretary
Reilly, of the Democratic state committee,
yesterday joined in sending the opinion or
Attorney General Miller on the law and the
following notice to the county cnalrmen
of both party organizations:
we the undersigned, chairmen ana sec
retaries of the Republican and Democratic
state committees. concur in the above opln-
OA oAQ
for county assessors be made this year,
inasmuch as there is no law under which
they can be elected until 1906:
The State Board of Tax commissioners
will also send copies of the attorney gen.
erals opinion to the assessors all over the
State.
A dispatch from the Journals Washing
ton correspondent says:
Senator Fairbanks to-day called at the
White House and informed the President
that the Twelfth Indiana district which
yesterday elected delegates to the chicago
convention, adopted resolutions at the con-
vention instructing the delegates for Roose-
Welt. The President expressed his pleasure
tina the first Republican district convention
held in Indiana this year had declared for
him."
Frank L. Jones, of South Bend, former
state superintendent of public instruction,
was at the Columbia Club yesterday. An
Evansville dispatch to a local paper last
week said that some of Mr.. Jones's friends
in attendance at the Lincoln League con-
vention had started a little boom for him
for another t4omination for state superin-
tendent, but Mr.. Jones says he has no
thought of being a candidate for anything.
THAI is certainly news to me-. interest
ing If true" he said. when told of the dis
patch. IF any of my friends have talked
of such a thing I'm obliged to them, Of
course, but I'm not seeking any office"
+
Senator A. d. Ogborn, of New Castle,
was in the city yesterday, the first time for
several weeks. He has been going through
the mill of a primary campaign for re-
nomination. Having carried Henry county
by a majority that was 200 votes in excess
of the total vote received by his opponent,
he is feeling very well. thank you, and is
in fine humor to receive the congratula-
fiOnS Of his friends Senator OphOrnfG dis
trict under the old apportionment is COM
posed of Henry, Fayette and Union coun-
ties; under the new apportionment Henry
trict Henry controls the nomination, and
having won out In the primaries in his own
county the senator Is assured OF Ten3mina-
I'VE had a pretty lively primary cam
paisn." said the senator, land after five
weeks of hard work, early and late, I'm
heartily glad it's over. l feel, though, that
/ have got trained down to fighting weight
for the coming campaign and I'm ready to
take up the real struggle"
In the same primary In which Senator
Ogborn was victorious his old partner,
Charles S. Hernly, former chairman Of the
Republican state committee, went dow in
representative, but the nomination was
wrested from him by Levi Ulrich, Of
Greensboro.
ut was stated here to-day" says a dis
pdCCn 10 the JOuIndl lIOIu NdDdSns Oh
the authority of some of Major George w.
Steele's closest friends. that that gentle
man would the first Of the week end all
doubt as to his candidacy for the Repub-
lean nomination for Congress in this dis
trict. by announcing himself in the race.
Major Steele is perfecting the announce
ment, which will appear in his home paper.
According to this authority the major will
explain the congressional situation in the
district as he understands it, and state
why he asks the support of the Repub-
lican voters In the six counties. Major
Steele has been in all parts of the district
for the last six weeks in consultation with
his friends, and both he and his support
ers express the utmost confidence in his
winning"
2
Expressions commencing the fairness of
County Chairman Elliott's call for the
Republican primaries to seIect precinct
committeeman were heard on all sides yes
terday, from the friends of both Of the
RUCSJA'S WORLD FAIR