The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-02-17
Vote CHANGING
PLANS FAIL TO
WIN SUPPORT
Strong Opposition Dis.
played in Senate to Pri-
mary and Registration.
BOTH MEASURES LOST
Indefinite PoStponement
Fate Fixed by Decisive
Maiorities.

Primary and permanent registra-
ton legislation will be given Scant
attention in the senate, it appeared
today.
Senators made short shrift Of bills
dealing with these matters when
they came to the floor on commit
tee reports Monday afternoon. Both
bills we're backed by Senator John
S. Alldredge (Rep., Madison). The
primary bill received a minority
committee report for passage, while
the registration bill was recon-
mended unanimously for indefinite
postponement.
Because 80 per cent Of the pro-
feSsional politicians are opposed to
the primary, believe that the peo-
pie want it and need it." Alldredge
told the senate in pleading for
adoption of the minority committee
report for passage of the primary
bill. He contended his bill was both
equitable and inexpensive"
Proposed 1915 Status
1t would restore the primary to
the 1915 status, putting both Gov
ernor and United States senator on
the primary ballot and providing for
male and female precinct commit
teemen and vice committeeman. The
man or woman receiving the highest
vote would be precinct committee
man and the one of the opposite sex
with the highest vote would be vice
committeeman.
Although complete primary re-
peal was urged in the legislative
message of Governor Harry G. Les
lie, Senator Lee j. Hartzel (Rep.,
Allen and Noble), Republican floor
leader, spoke for the minority re-
port adoption.
Il am for the primary law first,
last and all the time" the senator
declared. eff this bill doesn't suit
us, bring it out on second reading
and we can amend and fix it. Here
in the senate we should make a pri-
mary law that will be a credit to our
state
Offices of Governor and United
States senator were removed from
the primary ballot by the 1929 legis-
lature, effective in 1882. The move
was backed by the Republican state
committee.
Urges Test of New Law
Senator James j. Nejdl (Rep.,
Lake. took the floor for indefinite
postponement of the Alldredge bill
on the grounds that the action Ia
ken by the Republican senate ir
1929 had mot yet been tried"
AS chairman of the elections
committee he had signed the ma
jority committee report to indefi-
nitely postpone the Alldredge bill.
1--WE have not given the 1929 Law
chance to operate" Nejdl declared
To repeal it now would be neither
good politics nor good business"
At the close of the debate di-
vision was called for and sixteen
senators voted to keep the bill alive
ana tWenty-Slx to Kill it by indef1-
mite postponement.
Alldredge then took the floor for
his registration bill and Nejdl op-
posed him again: The bill was in
definitely postponed, Is to ID. The
bill would put permanent registra-
ton in the hands of county asses
Sors.
Il am for good registration bill,
Nejdl asserted. But this one is i'm
practical and silly
Senator Alldredge underwent a
third defeat a few minutes later
when his alien registration bill was
indefinitely postponed on recon-
mendation of judiciary A commit
tee. Alldredge cast the only vote in
its favor.