South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-19
DESIRE CHANGES
IN ELECTION LAW
Meeting Called For Dec. IT al
State House to ConSid-
er Plans.
News-Tlmes Special Service

News-Times Special Service.
INDIANAPOLIS. IND, Dec. 10
The special commission appointed
by Gov Goodrich to consider pos
sible revision Of the direct primary
law. the registration law, the cor
rupt practices law. the absent voters
law and similar election statutes.
determined to call d statewide pub
lie meeting on the subject for 10
o'clock in the morning Dec. p, at
the house of representatives in the
state house This action was decided
on at a meeting of the commission
in the governors Offices Monday.
Those who are 10 be invited TO at
tend the meeting include everyone
: terested in possible election law
changes by the coming legislature,
but specific invitations will be is
sued by the commission to every
mem Der of the legislature. the re-
Publican and democratic state and
advisory committees. the county
chairmen Of each party throughout
the state and the editors of the state.
Following this ate-wide meeting
the commission Will frame such re-
port as il desires TO make TO the
governor and the Legislature and
probably will prepare bills for the
! legislature, embodying its ideas. At
the meeting here the consensus of
} opinion seemed to be that changes
are needed in the existing direct
primary law, which probably would
inmate the direct primary fea-
I ture for the selection of candidates
and substitute therefor the conven-
I ton system, safeguarding, however,
very carefully with criminal statutes
against the violation of the ballot
/ box at party primaries. held for the
| selection Of delegates 10 conven-
tons.
Varied Opinions.
Varied opinions were expressed bv
I those at the meeting concerninE
/ specific changes that should be
made. but all apparently were
agreed that a registration law in
f some form is vitality necessary, as
a protection for the elections of tn p
state. Modification of the registra
} ton law, TO make it less onerous to
! certain communities in the state
where the populations are largely
/ stationary was discussed.
/ Some changes may be made i'm
! the absent voters law. it was said
! Judge Philip c. Gould Of Evansville
/ republican. was elected chairman OF
/ the committee. at the meeting Mon
| day. and Walter 5. Chambers, New
/ castle. democrat, was elected secre-
/ tary. T. w Henley, secretary of the
1 republican state committee in In
/ diana, called the meeting to order
\ Fred Van Mugs. democratic state
: chairman, attended the meeting
and spoke out unquaHfiedly for re-
4 turn 10 the old convention system
/ Of nominations, giving as his rea-
sons that il is far easier TO select
good candidates N both parties by
/ deliheration of representative Of
the people than b. the direct pri-
mary system Some opposition 10
repeating the primary law would be
expected in instances where county
officers were affected. il was point
ed cut in the discussion and il was
/ pointed out that congressman. now
in Once. desired the primary law
left as 1t is. in order TO perpetuate
( themselves in office.
Lake County Man m.
Robe Carl White of Muncie. and
John c. Killigrew Of Hobart, who
represented Miles Norton of Lake
county. republican, who was ill.,
were the republicans who attended
the conference with Sec'y Henley
Chairman Van Nuys mad named two
other democrats to take the places
of two who originally had beer
named, but were unable to sit on the
commission, and the democrats who
attended the conference as mem bers
Of the commission were Chairman
Van Nuys. Walter s. Chambers OF
Newcastle. John Rynearson Of Col
umbus. and Charles A. Hack oil
SheIbyviIle
Primary Dead Failure"
Chairman Van Nuys pointed C
Marion county as an example of po-
litical manipulation OF the primary
that had caused him TO change from
an ardent supporter Of the state
wide primary law in 1913 to a con.
dition in which he now believes j.
is a dead failure" He said that Il
is much harder 10 obtain good mer
for the tickets of all parties in coun
ties such as Marion under tn,
primary system and he said he il
for a return TO the old representa-
tives of the people 10 pick tickets
1t also was brought out that oppo
sition exists 70 the present primar,
system on the ground that "only
rich men can run for office" Sen
Chambers pointed out that small
groups OF men in both parties nov
hold caucuses and choose tickets 70
the primary elections, but that Their.
Is nothing 10 keep undesirable can
/ didates from appearing on primarr
tickets. Judge Gould said ne fel
some opposition would be felt from
public sentiment in many places &
attempts We're made TO abolish III,