The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-01-17
CHANGE IN
PRIMARY IS
NOT LIKELY
Believe State Wide Features
ofLaw Will Not be Repealed
-Solons Against Radical
Alteration.
CONSIDER AGRICULTURE
Especial Correspondence of the
Richmond Palladium.)

llou Dliio Will bc luc DlS
thing on the legislative surface dur
ing the coming week a number Of
ether issues will be somewhat buried
for the time being but will be under
serious consideration just the same.
Two of the questions that will come up
for formal action later and which are
of statewide interest relate to the d.
rect primary and to the state board of
agriculture.
There is little likelihood that the
direct primary question will appear for
discussion on the floor of either house
until it has been pretty we'll thrashed
out in conferences. The same probably
will be true of the proposal to reor.
ganize the state board of agriculture.
Solons Oppose Repeal.
1t Is little early to be making pre-
dictions about the outcome of the plan
to change the direct primary law but
it Is true that nine-tenths of those
outside the legislature who are asked
for an opinion on the outcome express
the view that the statewide features
Of the primary law will not be repeal
ed. Many of those in the legislature
are Of the same belief.
Generally it is accepted that the pro-
posal to knock out the statewide feat
ures of the law will meet a better re-
ception in the house than in the SEN
ate. One man who keeps a pretty
close eye on Legislative affairs made
the prediction that three-fourths of the
senators would vote against any radi-
cal changes in the statute. Some
others believe that the house will give
Il majority vote against repeal.
Two Forms Proposed.
tn I'd IN,
two forms: On one side it is proposed
to retain the statewide features off
the law and at the same time to enact
an amendment limiting the expenses
Of candidates. On the other side it
is proposed to repeal the statewide
features of the law The first plan is
represented by the Allderge bill and
the second by the Beardsley bill
Governor McCray, who is favorable
to the second. .rlan. has appointed
commission consisting Of the attorney
general and others to examine the var
ious primary measures that have been
or may be introduced but the inside
gossip is that the governors commits
sion will in all probability finally adopt
most of the provisions of the Boards
ley bill. Senator Beardsley himself is
a member Of the governors commits
sion.
Expense Limit to Fail.
The general belief is that the pro-
posal to limit expenses of candidates
also will fail. 1t is being pointed out
that limitation of the candidates ex-
penses counts for little because there
Is no way to prevent his friends from
expending as much as they desire to
expend.
Great interest centers on the hand
the governor will take in the primary
question. 1t is generally known. of
course, that he favors the repeal of
the statewide provisions but the ques.
tion is, will he take off his coat and
fight to put his plan through? Some
of the close friends of the governor
say he will not do so. They say he
will be content TO present his plan, an
nounce that he is in favor of it, and
then let the legislation take its course.
But others are recalling that in the
election of speaker recently, the
governor followed no such passive
course.
Influences Senatorships.
While there are some men in the
legislature who on principle are op-
posed to the primary, and some others
friends of he system. it is true that
politics enters into the question. and
the probable senatorship contest be-
tween Senator New and Albert j. Bev-
eridge cutting figure. Mr.. Bever-
idge's speech last week before the
Indianapolis women indicated his war
like disposition to defend the pri-
mary.
Edward c. Toner of Anderson, aside
from Mr.. Beveridge, is regarded as
the champion defender of the direct
primary. The primary also is said to
have the friendship of a great many
congressman who under it's provis-
ions have built up personal machines
which if they had had to build at
personal expense would have cost
thousands of dollars.
At the first public hearing on the
primary question which was held in
the senate chamber those against re-
peal of the primary law appeared to
be predominant. Among those who
spoke in favor of the law were Sena-
tor Alldredge bill. Senator Nejdl, SEN
ator Masters of Indianapolis, Senator
Harzell of Fort Wayne, Senator Kline
of Huntington, Senator Holmes of
Lake county. Senator Moorehead of
Indianapolis. Senator Strobe and Sen.
ator Bowers In favor of the repeal
= were Senator Beardsley, anthor of
the Beardsley bill, and Senator Hogs
ton.
Agriculture Board.
What shall be done about the state
board of agriculture is question that
has been frequently considered at
conferences in the governors office in
the last week, and no doubt will con-
tinue to receive serious consideration
until agreement is reached on some
plan that it is believed will meet with
the approval of the legislators. Among
those who have been foremost in the
conferences is Thomas Grant, of Lake
county, head of the board.
Tho present management of the
state board it is said does not object
to the state exercising some sort OF
control over the board but the issue
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