South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-29
DEMOCRATS WILL
REQUEST RULING
ON PRIMARY LAW
State Committee Takes Action
to Find Out Whether Present
Members Holding Appointive
Offices May Remain.
Special TO The News-Times.

Special 10 The News-Times.
INDIANAPOLIS, April %. - The
democratic district chairmen Of Indi-
ana districts who form erly were mem
oerS OF the democratic state commit
tee, met in a short conference at the
Denison hotel Wednesday afternoon to
discuss subjects Yitally interesting to
all political parties OF the state. be-
cause of the possible application of
The new primary law, passed by the
1915 legislature.
State Chairman Bernard Korbly
presided at the meeting, attendance at
which was practically limited TO those
who actually have been serving as
members of the committee. Frank
9. Daley, United States district at
torney, and Thomas Taggart were i'm
the room in which the conference was
held for a few moments. Mr.. Tag
CART came out almost Immediately and
Mr. DALEY remained until the con-
ference broke up.
After serious discussion relating to
whether members OF the state commit
tee who have appOintive offices of
some sort still might retain their
places on the committee without Vio-
lation of the new primary law, it was
decided that the state chairman should
ask Richard NJ. MilbuTn, the attorney
general, for an opinion as TO whether
such men as Charles j. Murphy. tenth
district chairman; Edward q. Hoff-
man, twelfth district chairman; James
L. Randel, fifth district chairman; E.
+. Cox, eleventh district chairman;
Marion Griffiths. fourth district chair
man, and Mark Storen, third district
chairman, might remain on the state
committee until the reorganization of
the committee next March.
Will Ask Opinion.
Thos attending the meeting were
undecided as to whether the terms
should expire yesterday, when the
governor declared the new laws in
effect, or whether the men in ques-
ton might hold their seats until next
March. Some of those named might
be able to hold their seats anyway,
IL was said, because of the wording of
the primary law, which prohibits ap-
pointive officers from holding places
on the state committee. The opinion
of the attorney general is to be asked
at once and if he replies that the
terms should have ended yesterday
then the men in question are to be
considered by the state committee as
having severed their connection there
with yesterday. If the decision, how
ever is the other way, many of those
mentioned will continue to hold their
places, it is understood.
Arthur Hamrick of Greencastle,
| chief clerk of the last house of rep
| resentatives. was on hand at the Denl-
son Wednesday, and it was understood
| that he was to be named TO succeed
| James L. Randel of Greencastle as
fifth district chairman. probably
whether the attorney generals opinion
was favorable to Randels remaining a
| member of the committee or other
wise.
| Gov. Ralston. it IS understood. has
insisted that an Interpretation of the
new law be Immediately forthcoming
| or that the designations of the various
members in question Of the state COM
mittee be sent in as of yesterday-the
| day the new law went into effect
! Name Sub-COmmittee.
! A subcommittee of the state COM
| mittee. which contained none of the
men whose membership might be
| questioned was appointed at the meet
| ing Wednesday, TO draft set of new
! rules to govern the state committee
/ conforming TO the provisions or the
new primary law. ON this committee
state Chairman Bernard Korbly is to
act as chairman and other members
are William A Kunkle of the eighth
| district; Walter Cham bers of the sixth
district and William f. Nollmer OF the
! second district.
This committee will formulate its
| new rules as soon as pCsSlDIe ana
meeting Will be held informally lot
that purpose probably within the next
/ few DAYS. Another meeting of the
entire former membership OF the
state committee then will be held
within the next two or three weeks
| at which the committee will report
/ and at which definite action on the
/ opinion of the attorney general Will
/ be taken Meanwhile, it IS understood
Chairman Korbly said, that the mem
hers of the committee in question Will
I be considered as having been auto
maticaIly removed from membership
on the committee yesterday, unless
| the attorney general rules otherwise.
! Chairman Korbly said arrangements
would be made soon for the hololns OF
! doY,ocra+ic love feasts in each district
! in the state. but that such arrange
ments necessarily could not progress
\ far until the state committee tanSIe