South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-03-16
NAME ACKER
COUNTY CHAIRMAN
FOR DEMOCRATS
Recently Elected Precinct CON-
mitteemen Per eCt 0rganl-
zation at Me~dng Monday
Afternoon.

That St Joseph fruH " IS q one
party county, and that party the DEM
ocratic. follows the reorganization OF
the local democ acy at it's head
quarters in the American building
Monday afternc . when the precinct
committeeman chosen at the primary
March l., met and elected new
county central committee.
Failure OF the republicans and
progressiVes TO reorganiZe within the
provisions of the law applicable 10
parties that at the last state election
cast more than 10 per cent of the
county vote, reads both those parties
literally out Of existence.
The democratic county central COM
mittee named by the precenct COM
mitteemen follows:
Chairman-Rudolph Ackerman.
Vice Chairman-Duncan Campbell.
Secretary-Oti Romine.
Treasurer-GeOrge Oltsch.
In the election Chairman Ackerman
VOL out in a contest with G.. a. Fara-
baugh, and Vice Chairman Campbell
over Bert KlysZ. The election of
secretary drew out several nomina-
tlons. among them James Butler, j.
Elmer Peake, Harvey Hostiser, James
G. Mccullough. George Kerner and
George Oltsch, but all these refused
to act, on account of lacking the
time. Treasurer Oltsch's bonds were
fixed at $1,000.
This reorganization brings To the
democratic party the only SimOn-pure
legal existence in ST Joseph county,
as a political party. with the eNcep-
ton OF the socialists and prohibition
lists, these latter two being permitted
TO reOrganiZe without the primary,
due to their having never cast ten
per cent of the county vote.
Others Failed to- Hold Primary
Neither the progressives nor re-
publicans held a primary, or anything
resembling one. as required by the
state law. That law says the county
chairmen of the parties shall agree
upon "A date for electing precinct
committeeman previous 10 March l,
or if they fail to, then the county
commissioners shall designate places
for precinct primaries TO be held on
March II.
The law implies that the County
chairmen shall furnish the commits
siOners with lists of places TO desig-
nate. which none of them did within
the required time, but apprised of the
error Democratic Chairman Zlnky
made immediate effort TO correct
whatever error had been committed
on his part, by designating the places
direct to the democratic voters.
No such effort was made by Pro-
gressive Chairman Guy or Republican
Chairman Elliott. the latter seeking
10 make it appear that the commits
siOners had not acted rightly. Neith-
er of them made any effort to hold
even the semblance of a primary, but
assert that their committees Will
have to hold over for aOnther two
years. There are republicans and
prOgressives who look upon these as
sertiOns as excuses, and are prone to
believe the failure TO act evidences a
desire 10 preserve control of the
county committees with the en-
trenched cliques, some of whom
might have been ousted had pri-
maries been held.
That the commissioners could not
we'll go ahead and designate places
for the primaries without the cooper
alton of the chairmen, is obvious
without such cooperation there was
no positive assurance that any parties
existed. The democrats were put to
rout in the recent municipal cam
paign. The republicans nearly drop
ped out of sight two years ago, and
the progressiVes have shown SO little
life locally since then. that they
might not want to elect committee
men and reorganiZe. so far as any
body might guess from appearances.
Not Business of Board.
1t is not the business of the county
commissioners to reOrganize political
parties against the will of the parties,
or TO promote their reorganization
after their leaders have become too
dead TO take any initiative. Ii would
indeed be presumptious for the Coun-
" commissioners To designate places
for the progressives and republicans.
or even democrats. to meet and elect
precinct committeeman, when there
was no valid evidence before such
commissioners that the places might
be used.
1t is TO the credit of Democratic
Chairman Zinky that he took action
on his own responsibility, as sOOn as
his own oversight was discovered,
correcting the error as best he could.
The republicans and progressives. il
they reorganize at all. and there Is
some question if reorganization is not
necessary: viii have TO petition as
new parties next fan. listing their
candidates on the machines as inde-