The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1921-02-18
Opposition to Emasculation of
Primary Law Expressed by
Senators to McCray.
TO STAND FIRM, THEY ASSERT
Members of Upper Branch of legisla-
ture Declare They Will Resent Ef-
forts to Force Weakening of
Statutes in Force.

ana SeHale WHO are OppoStu ~ lhc
emasculation of the primary law by
putting nominations of candidates for
United States senator and governor at
the disposal of state conventions Wis
tied Governor McCray in a body and
asserted that they are not in favor OF
changes proposed and that they will
resent any efforts 10 force the general
assembly to make the law weaker.
They told the governor that they
desired TO cooperate with him and did
not desire to bring about a clash be-
tween the legislative and executive
departments, but that they would not
give in to dictation by the Republican
organization or any other influence.
The governor defended the position
he has taken that the primary system
involves too great an expense for can
didates, and approved a suggestion
that in the interest of harmony a
joint committee of senators and rep
resentatives o. the Republican state
committee be appointed TO Iron OUT
the differences.
The conference was held on the in
itiative of the pro-primary senator's
who wished TO learn the attitude of
the governor.
Many of these senators spoke of
outside pressure being brought on the
legislature to bring about material
weakening of the primary law, and
they said the purpose of the visit to
the governor was TO serve polite,
though firm, warning that outside
senator's were in the delegation that
called on the governor, other senators
favoring the primary being absent on
account of other business.
1.-THE most friendly spirit prevailed
in the conference, and we are merely
trying to get together on the matter
by the appointment of q conference
committee made up of five repealists
and five antirepealists," said Governor
McCray, after the meeting. 1.-The
senators who were here expressed
themselves as favoring repeal of
the present primary law as it applies
to presidential preference, but not as
applied to candidates for governor
and United States senators. / tried to
convince them that the primary was
all beautiful i'm theory but that it was
very impractical, and threw men open
to physical hardships which shortened
their lives. 1t is inhuman to ask a
man TO go through two hard cam
paigns. covering territory from the
Ohio river TO Lake Michigan, as is nee
esSary under the present law"
The governor then said that the re-
peal of the primary law represented,
he thought. the sentiment of the ma
jority of the Republicans, as we'll as
the Democrats, Of the state. He said
that the fight for the primary repeal
would have to be taken up by the Re-
publican state committee, as that was
the committees duty.
The general assembly will not be
empowered to provide a system of
taxation for the state il the house of
representatives sustains the unani-
nous action of its committee on
judiciary A, which voted solidly in
definitely TO postpone senate joint
resolution No. 16, which seeks to
amend the constitution to give the
legislature that power.
The action came as surprise. as
the joint resolution passed both
houses Of the 1919 session Of The leg
islature and had been passed by the
senate at this session. The favor
able action Of the house was all that
was necessary TO submit the proposal
to amend the constitution to a refer
endum.
The house committee members
thought the measure far too sweeping
in its proposals" said Representative
Chester a. Davis, chairman of the
committee, when he announced the ac-
ton of the committee. at provides
for no safeguarding of the rights of
the people. 1t would, in the opinion
of the committee, make the tax cues
ton a political football to be kicked
around every time a new party came
into power. 1t would provide for no
permanent system Of taxation and our
tax laws would be continually on the
political fire. For these reasons the
committee opposed the passage of the
measure"
The action of the committee prob
ably will be sustained by the house,
the disposition heretofore being to
stand by the action of a committee
when ii is unanimous.