South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-07-04
DEMOCRACY PREFERS
TWO REGISTRATIONS
County Chairmen Report Fa-
vOrabIe to Extra Day in Sep
tember-G. o. P. and Bull
Moose Also Anxious.

INDIANAPOLIS, July 3.-The de-
cision of the democratic state COM
mittee regarding the holding of spe-
cial registration in September has dis
closed the fact that the republicans
and progressives have Rad in mind
for some time a similar plan but
that they have been waiting for the
democrats TO take the Initiative.
The necessity of having a special
registration in September has been
apparent TO the leaders OF all parties
for some time. Under the new law
enacted by the last legislature there
is but one registration date provided
for. The registration must be held
on the 29th day prior to the general
election.
However, the law provides that
whenever a petition is filed in any
county by three hundred voters a call
ton on the 59th day prior to the
election.
Republicans Hard Hit.
The experience of all parties two
years ago under the old registration
law showed that ii was very difficult
70 get the voters TO take any interest
in the matter At the republican
state committee rooms it is claimed
that fully O,0OO republicans failed to
register two years ago. The eXplana-
ton is given that the $4,000 repub-
! icans who did not register did not
approve of Taft but did not want to
vote for Roosevelt, so they disquali-
| fed themselves
However in every county all
parties experienced more or less diff
/ Guilty in getting the majority of the
voters 10 take any interest in the reg
/ istratiOn. Under the old law there
were three registration dates and no
absent man could register by afif-
/ davit Under the new law a voter
who is not in the state on registra-
| ton day may register by filing proper
sworn statements.
Chairmen Heard From.
Owing TO the difficulty experienced
| two years ago in getting out the votes
/ the leaders Of all the parties have
( concluded that the only way to han
/ die the registration successfully is tC
! file petitions for special registrations
/ I'm September. AT a recent meeting
/ of the democratic state committee
/ the district chairTnen were asked tC
make inquiries among their county
chairmen and democrats generally as
| to whether special registration should
be held. Reports made at the meet
ing of the committee here Wednes
day were that in practically every
county sentiment favored special reg
| voters interested in the election.
The democratic state committee
| has decided to take a definite stanC
in favor of special registration anC
within a short time petitions will b,
! presented in practically every county
At the republican headquarters j
was said that the matter of holdinl
! special registration will be put UP e
| local organizations but that the part.
leaders have decided that a sDecia
registration not only is desirOus bu
necessary under the present circum
| stances IL is very probable that il
nearly every county the petitions tha
will be presented will be non-partisaI
in character in view Of the desire o
the leaders OF all parties for th'
larger opportunity 10 register al
voters. This matter will be put UP t.
the republican organization within
the next few days and also to tn
progressive organization at thei
meeting here on July Sth.