The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1916-11-14
NEW BILL
WOULD BE
GOOD THING
Thirty Day Campaign Only For
City Offices May be Put in
Vogue Next Year.
TIMES BUREAU,
AT STATE CAPITAL.

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov I4.-There is
some talk of bill to be introduced at
the coming session of the Indiana legis-
lature to change the time for hoioihs 3
primary elections The present law re-
quires that primaries shall be heid on
the first Tuesday after the first Monday
in March. Mane of those who nave
taken part in the 1916 campaign for
,,,,,,;netions as we'll as for election are
of the opinion that the time should be
hanged and that primaries should not
he held until September or the first OF
october each year. Some say II "ouiu
he well to make city nominations IN
october and county and state noiliina-
tions in September. thus giving thirty
days for the city campaign ana SKY
davs for the state and county campaign
rrtis 1engtb of time, il is said, would
na ample for the candidates TO make
their canvas sand to do all of their
campaign work
Under the present law candidate for
office is required to make two long eA-
nensfve and wearing campalgns-olle
for nomination and one for eiectloh'
Candidates for nominations, unoer me
present system. announce their cailoloa-
cies months in advance of the prithaIl les'
and they are required to make a ION <
campaign. For instance, candidates lor
state Offices start one year to get reaas
for the primaries to be held the 1ollo"-
ing spring. They must travel al over
the state. or. at least, they think theS
must. and this kind of campaign Is al
most. if not quite as expensive as con
Quoting the campaign for election 4
will be recalled that James r. Goodrlch
stated in his sworn statement OF PIT
mary expenses that he spent more than
s1s0oo to get the republican nomination
for governor. other candidates OF
course. spent proportion ate amounts.
This applies to the candidates OF poth
parties. How much the successful can
didates spent after the primaries 10 oe
elected in November is not yet known.
but they admit that this was an eX-
pensive campaign.
1t is pointed out that if the nomina-
lions had been made in September this
YEAR instead Of March it would have
been less wearing on the candidates as
well as on the people Of the state De
cause it would have shortened the time
in which the people could have been
pulled and hauled and buttonholed
There is no need of such long cam
nairn. il Is said. Just as effective work
could be accomplished in shorter
time it is said.
Following the March primaries there
is long lull in political matters, dur
ing which the only thing done is or
ganization work by the parties This
Kind Of work. it is urged could be ac-
complished Just the same and in the
same months. even though the nomina-
lions we're not made until September OF
October.
city elections will be held throu sh-
out the state next fall. and nomina-
lions for city Offices will be made next
March unless the present primary law
* changed and the date for holding the
primaries pushing along until later II
the wear. Already there is talk of can
didates for city nominations. in the
cities throughout the state, and this IS
one thing that has given rise TO the
ak of a change in the primary law.
Complaint is heard that it is foolish
"a start now TO work for nominations to
10 voted for at the election next fall
whole year ahead. but that is exact
- What is going on. If the primaries
for citv nominations were postponed un
- sen+ember or October, 1t is pointed
mt there would be no necessity for pri
,,srl. campaign work to start before
rext spring. whereas under the pres
ent system it is on right now