South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-24

PRIMARY LAW By THAT PARTY.
That TT Wayne gentleman in at
tendance at the socalled republican
I'get-together" meeting in Indianapo-
jas, who proposed 90 test the consti-
Hutionality Of the state primary law
Because OF the partisan test provided
(or as "A condition precedent 20 one
faking part IN a party's nominations.
.nust. indeed. have been hard pressed
fOr something to find fault with. The
provision is exactly the same as con-
aimed in the old primary law. passed
| by the republicans in 1907 effective in
4he FIVE more pOpulOus counties in the
Ftate, and il would seem that il this
Eere such a dangerous proviso. tE3t
- aw might as we'll have been counted
but by the supreme court, at the in
tance OF this brilliant light and the
bit-fall thus have been red-lanterned.
rhe test consists of an affidavit. filed
+ lpon challenge. to the effect that the
otor voted a majority of the party
1 ieket at the last election, OF the party
with which he undertakes 10 affiliate
{ he primary. and further that he
xpects TO support a majority Of the
icket which he would help nominate
when it comes TO the general election.
But generously now. il is very kind
| f those "get-together' republicans,
| hat they should finally have decided
Tot to test the statute. nOtwithstand-
F. ng this and other questionable phases
hat they presume 20 nave discovered.
I'VE anticipate that there is nothing
| afer in all the world than not TO
Jackie a thing that you feel assured
| hat you will be unable to handle, and
here is good reason, therefore. why
HEY sho;'ld let their generosity
abound. Besides they feel surer of
|omething to criticise. and find fault
with. than they would after putting
he measure up TO the courts for con-
|truction. especially in view of the
probability that it would be upheld.
Their talk about the unconstitution-
|,hty Of the act is about as reliable as
|Iol. Walter l. Taylor's figures on
What il would cost candidate for
president TO get before a primary in
|sI the forty-eight states of the union
j. the Indiana rate OF $10O each.
According TO our evening contemp-
Irary's quotation of Mr.. Taylor's fig
|lres, As states at 500 each, as a filing
eo 10 defray the expense OF a primary.
would be $48.OOO-just an extra
|ypher is all. but unless you take the
trouble TO notice it. enough of an eX-
lggeration to sort OF stagger you.
But what kind sof exaggeration is to
- expected. only il makes it rather
|ickening 20 have 10 keep up con-
|tant fire in exposition Of it. The cam
|Daign. lie. like the biblical poor. we
presume will always be with us, hut
Some lies are more INSCRIPTIONS and
|nore OF an imposition than others,
ust as some poor are more unworthy
! nd more OF a burden. We are not
particularly in favor of the schedule
f charges to be made against various
candidates to defray the expenses of
4 he primary, and which must be paid
efore their names can go on the pri-
harry ballot, but we wonder what our
republican friends would have said
bout the awful burden of some $22O.-
90 TO be imposed upon the state, had
he assessment been eliminated and
he commonwea lth left TO foot the en-
ire bill? While bewailing the hard
hip placed upon the poor man as a
candidate for office, we wonder if they
you'd have welcomed such a differ
nee from the present law, in his be-
alf? That is. we wonder. only we
5on't.
Fact of the matter is the republican
id not want a primary law passed at
| H. They hoped that the democratic
Iarty would not pass one; first, be-
ause they would prefer not TO trust
be people with direct nominations.
nd second. because having broken
aith with the people on the same sub
ect in 1907. they would have liked To
ave had the democratic party so and
. likewise in 1915. To is the worst
&Tpe Of demagoguery for a republican.
L all acquainted with Indiana political
history. 70 talk about the law passed
y the recent assembly not measuring
/ 10 the primary plank in the 1914
democratic platform. Let them go
Jack TO 1907 and sweep their own
<Oor-yard FIRST A statewide primary
as distinct promise OF the repub-
leans In 1906. but the old law requir-
bg "A certain population for applica-
To- or an optional vote, was what the
eop,e got-a law that never became
Applicable 20 ST Joseph county. for
distance. until 1912.
Magnificent academy of saints these
gapubhcans are-if their record were
#nly half as good as their pretenses.
or be IL rem emhered that il was from
bat makeshift primary law. passed Ina
907 by "a republican legislature. when
rank Hanly was governor. and Hugh
H. Miller presided over the senate
#hat the recent assembly borrowed
bad partisan test. before referred TO-