South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-01-31
HAPPENINGS IN AND ABOUT TOWN
Political Gossip

with the opening OF the county
clerks Office at Q O'Clock this morn
ing. ITO be or not to be" is a ques-
ton which will be answered with
the close Of business at the court
house and in the office of the secre-
tary OF state next Saturday. Feb. 8.
the last day for filing Of petitions
for primary place. according TO the
statutes of the new Indiana primary
law.
The law is to the effect petitions
must be filed not more than 90 and
not less than so days before the
holding of such primary by the vari-
Gus political parties.
The progressive party in Clark
county seems to have died without
struggle. As far as can be learned
no organization is left the chairman
has resigned. the treasurer is not
there. and the committee has fallen
TO pieces. Former progressive lead
ers say members of the party are
content TO return 10 their old aIeg
lance and it is expected the repub-
lican ticket nominated March : and
the central committee then chosen
will contain the names of a good
many former progressives.
In their family quarrel over which
Of the republican state central ma
chine candidates might possibly be
able TO secure some progressive
votes the standpat office grabbers'
association can not personally forget
the debt-paying record which has
been established by the democrats
in office at the state house. They
are also much annoyed with the
knowledge that the people will not
forget that two millions Of dollars
of republican debts have been wiped
out by the democrats since the
voters put democrats into every office
in the state house.
Among the promises made during
the campaign Of 1914 was that made
by Homer l.. Cook as a candidate for
secretary of state. He promised. if
elected. he would save directly in the
management of his office enough to
pay his salary of $500. From time
to time during the year attention
has been called to the economies
which he has instituted.
In his annual report covering the
full year of 1915, Sec'y Cook shows
a saving of almost twice his salary.
During 1914 the expense in salaries.
postage, printing and supplies in
handling 1862 license plates was
$26.226. The same expenses under
Secy Cook in 1915. when 111.039 Ii
censes were issued, was S23.926, a
saving Of $500 and an increase Of
31.367 licenses. These expense fig
ures do not include the cost of PLATED
In 1916 they will issue at least 125.-
600 licenses and on this number of
plates the price contract made by
Sec'y Cook marks a saving of $4,000
over former contracts.
At the request Of Mr.. Cook the
legislature eliminated the salary of a
deputy secretary Of state which had
previously called for an expenditure
of S1,S0O. The duties were hereto
fore. as they are now. performed by
the person who draws salary in an
other capacity in the office. In 1915
direct expenditures Of his office Sill
46O. Besides making the same saw
ings in 1916 he will add a saving Of
about $4,000 on the reduced prices
for dicense plates and other supplies
in this department.
Sec'y Cook has also been an active
member of the state tax board which
has done excellent work in the
equalization Of assassin bents. placing
some of the burden where il prop
erly belongs, doing the greatest de-
gree OF justice 20 everybody and in
juring nobody.
Delegates 10 the democratic state
convention as reported by the cleo
ton commissioners. are as follows:
South Bend-First ward. 4: sec
ond. 3 third, ,; fourth. 3; fifth. .:
sixth. A seventh. 3.
Mishawaka-First ward. /: sec
ond, L; third. , fourth. J.. fifth
ward and precinct \ in Penn town
ship. /.
Olive township I, Warren and
German, 1; Clay /; Harris. l; Mad
ison, /; Union. 1: Center and Green.
1 Liberty. ; Lincoln.
This makes a total of 80 delegates
from 81. Joseph county