The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-18
CHAIRMAN ELLIOTT CALLS
PRIMARIES FOR FEB, rs
Republican Committeeman to Be
Chosen Next Thursday Meet
Two Days Later.
CANDIDATES ARE PLEASED
Date Suits Both Metzger and
Smith-Opinion on Bound
aries.

RepuDlcdQ primaries TOT the eltClou VI
precinct committeemen will be held in this
County on Thursday, Feb. %. The polls will
be open between 4 and 5 o'clock in the
evening. County Chairman c. n. Elliott
issued the call last night.
The precinct committeeman elected at
this primary will meet Saturday, Feb. q,
fn the Criminal Court room TO effect the
county organization by the election of a
chairman. vice chairman. secretary and
treasurer. The candidates for county chair
man are Sheriff Robert Metzger and II. Il.
Smith. former county auditor.
The primaries Will be held under the old
ward and precinct boundaries. so far as the
city of Indianapolis is concerned. The. ques-
ton as 10 whether the old or new bound
aries should. be followed was submitted by
County Chairman Elliott to Attorneys Ed
ward Daniels, Linn ID. Hay and William T.
HerOd. Their unanimous opinion was that
the old boundaries, as established by the
County commissioners, should be followed.
Chairman EinoIt has opened headquarters
in Room 31 in the Lemcke building and
will direct the primaries with the assistance
OF Secretary Harry T.. Negley. Mr.. Elliott
will name the election officers in the vari-
Gus precincts, ia ACCORDANCE with the pro
visions OF the law. he will announce the
voting places and the names of the in
spectors in the Journal of Feb. "a.
BOTH CANDIDATES SATISFIED.
The candidates for county chairman have
e0Nh . aN III Aa~L 81
lected for the primaries. Mr.. Smith said
yesterday that he would be ready at any
time and that Feb. 25 would suit him as
well as any other date. Mr.. Metzger has
his organization and campaign we'll in hand
and also states that he is ready for the
issue. The friends OF both candidates are
confident of carrying the day. Mr.. Metzger,
who is known as one of the shrewdest
political managers in the county, has
u-nrlra1 oo-Irr or1 To4. e. -1r-a~ 81 a.,
perfecting his organization and has his
forces in excellent shape. Mr.. Smith has
been equally Industrious.
The following Is the official call issued
BY County Chairman g. n. Elliott:
Indianapolis. Ind, Feb. II. 1904.
"To the Republican voters of Marion coun-
~, State OF indiana:
Primaries for the election of precinct
committeeman will be held in the voting
precincts of the several wards of the city
OF Indianapolis and the several townships
In Marion county outside of said city On
THURSDAY, the 18th day OF February, 1904.
The polls shall be open for the election
OF such precinct committeeman between the
hours OF and s O'Clock /. m; Primaries
will be held according to the precinct
boundaries established by the County Com
missioners for the general election in 1902.
The Republican board OF primary cleo
meet at the Criminal Court room, court
house. indianapolis, on Thursday, Feb. %.
at . O'Clock d. m. TO hear and determine all
contests.
The precinct committeeman so elected
viii meet on Saturday, Feb. y, 1904. at 2
o'clock p. m, at the Criminal Court room in
said city to elect a chairman, vice chair
man, secretary and treasurer, and to de-
termine the manner in which party candi-
dates shall be nominated.
The places OF holding primaries and
names Of inspectors Will be published in the
indianapolis Journal of Feb. "a, and such
corrections and changes as may be neces-
sary will be published in the Indianapolis
= journal OF Feb. %.
CHARLES ~. ELLIOTT,
- nnrrnFv DnnrnI1fann ON
HARRY E. NEGLEY.
Secretary"
ATTORNEYS SUBMIT OPINION.
The opinion submitted by Attorneys
Daniels. Hay and Herod on the question
as to the ward and precinct boundaries. is
as follows:
"Hon. Charles n. Elliott. Indianapolis, Ind:
w have had submitted to us by you
a question as to whether the coming cleo
ton OF precinct committeeman shall be
held under the precinct boundaries estab-
1ished by the Board of County Commission
ers of Marion county or under those fixed
and established by the Common Council of
the city of indianapolis. We have given
the question careful consideration, and
are OF the opinion that the precinct boun-
daries as established by the Board of Coun-
ty Commissioner are to govern in the COM
ing election of precinct committeeman.
by an act OF the Legislature, approved
March s. 1889, IL is made the duty of County
Commissioners of each county I'm the State.
at their drst session after the taking effect
of the act, TO divide the townships into
election precincts and establish the bOun-
daries Of the Sane, and by an act of the
Legislature. approved March g., 1891, the
Board OF Commissioners of any county
may change the boundaries of any pre-
cinct within such county, or divide any
precinct into two or more precincts, or con-
solidate two or more precincts into one.
This law seems TO give the County Com
missioners the exclusive power of making
divisions of counties into precincts for
election purposes. and while the law pro-
viding for the election of city officers places
in the Common Council of the city the
right 10 establish election precincts. it
must, in our opinion, be necessarily held
that the Common Council has the power
10 district the city for city election pur-
poses only.
THE precinct committeeman to be elected
are 10 compose the county committee and
this committee is recognized as the adjunct
TO all elections of county. State and ma
tional officers. No city officers are to be
elected. and it Is clear 10 us that only Coun-
IL Commissioners have the power to es-
tablish precinct boundaries for such an
election, and that I'm the coming election
Of precinct committeeman the boundaries
as last established by the County Conn
missiOners make the precincts from which
precinct committeeman are to be elected.
Very truly yours.
EDWARD DANIELS,
LINN ID. HAY,
P1RTLE