Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-01-19
PRIMARY FOES
BREAK PLEDGE,
ASSERTS TONER
Progressive Leader Girded for
Battle to Fulfill Platform
Promise.
WILL SPEAK AT HEARING

primary law is IN direct oppOSiIlon 10
the pledge of the Republican party,
voiced IN its 1920 platform. according to
Edward c. Toner Of Anderson, former
Progressive leader and an unsuccessful
candidate for the Republican nomination
for Governor last year.
hr. Toner IS in Indianapolis not alone
for the purpose Of fighting against the
repeal Of the present law. but to assist
In the dZht to make the primary system
even more extensive. He has opened
headquarters in the ClaypooI Hotel,
which he says will be made a rallying
place for the friends Of the primary law
Until some decision is reached.
according to reports from New York,
senator Hiram Johnson OF California, IN
successful candidate for the Republican
presidential nomination may come to In
diana to fight against repeal Of the pri-
mary election law in this State. An in
Htation has been extended to Senator
Johnson by the progressive wing OF the
Indiana Republican party, which is OPP
posing the stsndpat element in a legisla-
tive fight over the question Of extending
or abollshlnE the primary system. It is
understood that the Senator's reply has
not been made. senator Johnson is
Known as proDOnent OF the direct pri-
mary system.
Nj Toner'S open defiance Of the stand
pat element was the main topic Of con-
Fersation IN the StetehOuse this morn
ing When both Houses or the Legislature
Convened The fight on the primary bill
mas taken a front rank In legislative de
iOefatons and promises to De one OF the
outstanding features Of the session.
PUBLIC HEARING
TOMORROW NIGHT.
senator John S. AlIdredge Of Anderson
VINO Is fostering the bill for strengthen
ing the primary law. and NJ. Toner are
making arrangements for presenting
tneir case 10 the Senate COMMITTEES on
Elections. which will hold a pubuc hear
ing tomorrow night The committee has
eeIore 1t the AudTedge bill providing
tof the extension Of the primary 70
StSte OFFICES and the bin Of which Sen
at0r a h Beardsley Of Elkhart IS the
sponsor, said to express the ideas Of the
administration. which would eliminate
the primary except as Il applies to
purely local Offices and would make even
that application optional
Inc Republican State platform
pledges the party to a revision Of the
primary law Mr.. Toner said in com
inenting on the present fight - vyss
publican State convention and I know
the purpose Of that plank II was IN
TENDED to pledge the Republican party
10 the strengthening OF the primary law
NOT 20 lts repeal Any attemp to abolish
the primary IS in direct opposition to the
intent OF that plank. 1t is significant
that not one Republican speaker dur
ing the entire campaign said one word
about abolishing the primary"
MI. Toner repeated the statement that
mas previously been made that the pri
mary night is a fight between the rro
gressiFe wing Of the Republican party
and the resctioaary wing.
DIVIDE Along
LINES OF 1912
The advocates and opponents OF the
primary are dividing along the lFne<S OF
tae 1872 fight, which tends to bear out
Mr.. Toner'S statements
Mr.. Toner sees in the present fight
something far more significant than q
mere State difference
This is not merely a State fight be-
tween the PrOgressives and the re
a"tiOn3ries,' he said EFT Is national
fight II was apparent that such q con
test was coming and Indiana was de-
lberately picked as the bsttle ground.
The result in Indiana will have 4 pro-
found influence on the action Of other
States. The primary fight viii be won
or lost in Indiana"
The fact that Albert J. Beveridge. who
Is looked upon as a candidate for the
Republican nomination for United States
Senator IN opposition to Senator Harry
). New. IS taking such an active part In
the primary fight is considered signih-
cant in the light Of Mr. Toner'S state
ments- Mr.. Beveridge viii be one OF the
principal speakers at the public bearing.
Tod -HtarN
gressive Of note are taking q keen in
terest in the fight and that they may
take an active part.
Mr. Beveridges participation In the
fight bears out to some extent the state
ment that the contest is between the pro
gressives and the reuctiOnarIes, and It
bears out to a far greater extent the
contention that it is national in its
character. At least, Mr.. Beyeridge's sue
cess or failure in this fight may have
national consequences.
BIG FIGURE IN
NATIONAL FIGHT.
Mr. Beveridge is perhaps the most for
mldable contender In Indians's three
eornered fight for national Official recog
milton The other two contestants are
VIII II. Hays, Republican national chair
man. and Senator Harry s New. Hoosier
Gopsters have pretty generally made up
their minds that Mr.. Hays has landed
Cabinet position. This leaves Mr.. Beyer
idge and Senator New In the contest for
the senstorshiD.
Senator New must be reelected. in
tie opinion Of party manlpulatoTs- This
viii necessitGte the removal OF Mr.. Bev
sridge from the contest. A story is be
Ing generally circulated to the effect that
President-elect Harding has offered Mr.
BevsTidge an Enthusiastically or 4 sim
Oar appointment. The acceptance OF such
an appointment would settle things
peaceably. II such an Arrangement can
not be made, there win be a fight and
the primary contest is in the nature Of
che hrst round. II 3ir. Beverage wins.
he will have obtained tho approval Of
large number OF voters and VIII have
something toward which to point with
pride"
The outcome Of the primary fight
win be determined, Of course, Only by
the votes % the LEGISLATORS. Friends OF
the BIN favoring its repeal are more
fearful 81 the Senate than OF the House.
They say II they can get IL through
the upper branch, where the contest has
been started they are assured OF sue
cess. Considerable opposition TO the re-
peal Of the law appeared at the nrst
public hearing, but friends OF the repeal
bin insist that the extent OF the opposf-
ton is little greater than the number
OF Senator's who spoke against It at the