Evening star., 1922-07-16
indiana MAY LEAD
IN PRIMARY REPEAL
Slight Chance Said to De-
pend on Bipartisan Leg
isIative Move.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, July 15.-Re-
ports that a nationwide effort is on
to repeal the direct primary law in
various states has led to a deal OF
speculation as to what may happen
In Indiana when the legislature
meets. One Of the stories afioat is
to the effect that there will be a
better chance to repeal the law if
the democrats control one branch of
the legislature and the republicans
control the other. The idea is that
If both parties should have hand
in the repeal of the law both would
suner equally from any political re-
action that might be incurred
The election of Albert ]. Beveridge,
republican nominee for United States
senator. 1t is expected, would make for
the safety of the law. Mr. Beveridge
- one of the pioneers of the primary in
indiana. His political followers in the
legislature began the fight for the di-
.ect primary nearly twenty years ago
GENERALLY. 1t Is believed that Gov. Nc
ray would sign repeal bin. At the
line OF the last legislative session he
xPressed an opinion unfavorab!e to the
Hfect primary. and vigorous effort
%as made to repeal The law at that
lme. MI BeVeridge took the stump
IN behalf of the Jaw, and many delega-
ions waited on the Legislature.
Ihere is no question but that the
iirect primary. 50 far as political lead
srs OF Doth parties go. is weaker in
,ndlana now than it was five years ago
Most political observers believe there
Will be better chance to repeal the
aw in the coming legislature than there
was In the last session. but nobody is
predicting to a certainty that il will be
epeaied.
Women Plan Meetings.
At conference a few days ago
MISS Gertrude F. McHugh. secretary
OF the democratic state committee;
Mrs. James Riggs, democratic ma
tional committeewoman for Indiana
and Mrs. Adelbert Flynn. vice chair
nan of the state committee arranged
Tor meetings of democratic county
Woman vice chairmen in every con-
sressional district in the state. Mrs.
riggs and Mrs. Flynn will attend all
If the meetings. Opinion is express
I'd among the democrats that they
nave the lead In an organization way
with the woman voters. because the
republicans were slow in getting
women into important places in the
state organization.
Charles E. Cox of Indianapolis has
been engaged by the democratic state
ton proceedings brought by r. C.
Brown of Bedford to prevent the
county chairmen of the third district
from naming congressional candi-
date to fill the vacancy caused by
the death of John w. Ewing of New
Albany. Brown was defeated by Ew
ing in the primary and asserts he is
the rightful nominee. The meeting
Of the county chairmen which had
been. set for last Monday has been
deferred until after hearing is had
in the injunction case. 1t is not like
ly that any step will be taken prior
to July 90. the return date set in
the summons The case is in the
Lawrence Circuit Court before Judge
James NJ. Cox, who issued the re-
straining order preventing action by
the county chairmen.
G. o. p. Committee Picked.
1t war predicted this week that the
men to be named by Lawrence Lyons,
republican state chairman. as men,
state committee would be Bert Thur
man. collector Of internal revenue
and formerly chairman of the third
district: John Owens of Noblesville.
manager of the campaign of Senator
Watson in 1920: Mayor Ora Davis of
Terre Haute. w. C. Bobbs of Indian
apolis and Charles W. Miller of In
dianapolis.
Bobbs and Miller are known as
particularly close friends of Mr.. Eov-
eridge, while Thurman and Owens
are generally counted as strong Wat
son men. 1t was also reported that
the woman members of the evecu-
tive committee would be Miss Heller
Benbridge of Terre Haute. D1
Amelia Keller of INDIANAPOLIS. Mrs
Carina Warrington of Fort Wayne.
Mrs. Joseph r. Healing of Indianapo-
lis and Mrs E. A. Gould of Peru.
DR.. Keller was active in the cam
paign to nominate Lew Shank for
mayor of Indianapolis and also was
active for Beveridge in the recent
urinary. Mrs. Healing is the wife
of the republican national commit
teeman from Indiana.