Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1914 — FRAMING INDIANA LAWS IN WASHINGTON [ARTICLE]

FRAMING INDIANA LAWS IN WASHINGTON

Governor Ralston and Congressmen Conferred on Scheme to Pass Primary Law.

Governor Ralston went to Washington last week to attend the golden jubilee of the Knights Of Pythias, order and while there he called <a meeting of the democratic congressmen of Indiana and that is all the kind raised in the crop of 1912. The object of the meeting was to discuss the provisions of a direct primary law for Indiana and the congressmen went so far as to take steps to draft a bill and have it ready for presentation to the state legislature when it convenes next January. The rather unusual proceeding attracted considerable attention, for it is the right of the state senators and representatives to make their own laws and seems a little out of harmony for the-gov-ernor to call a meeting of the national representatives of the state in the national capital to prepare a bill.

Representatives Korbley, Morrison, Moss and Peterson did not favor the departure from the convention plan and it was claimed that in Illinois the primaries had resulted in “nominating of a state teket consisting almost entirely of Irishmen.” It was also claimed that good results had not followed the direct primary in Indianapolis and Terre Haute. Governor Ralston said that in some respects the convention system has obvious advantages as, for instance, in the proper geographical distribution of candidates, but that the people want direct primaries and he thought the democratic party should give the people what they want. Senator Shively

and Senator Kern were not present at the meeting but both are in sympathy with the plan. A committee was appointed to ascertain what forms of primary laws are in use in other states and to draft a bill according to the best needs of Indiana. Another meeting is called for Thursday night of this week. It will make it Teal easy for the next state legislature if Governor Ralston and the national congressmen frame all the hills and have them ready for the "littles fellows when they get together in Indianapolis. The direct primary law is something thatis certain to eome. The Republican believes that it should corne as a demand of the people; while at the same time, unless there is a compulsory primary we do not expect any good results to follow. In some cases of personal observation we have seen unworthy aspirants for office organize their forces and secure nomination, while a lack of organized opposition made it possible. Only those attend the primaries who have an object to be attained. If it is poa sible to frame and. pass a compulsory primary law then the results that will follow will be the best attainable. The common people in Indiana should be giving some consideration to this measure and not delegate their power to the political highbrows who are sent to Washington to make our national laws.

L. W. Henley, managing editor of the Terre Haute Star, a bull moose newspaper, has been seleeted lor secretary of the republican state committee. His name had been mentioned frequently in connection with the place, along with those -1 R. Harry Miller, Indianapolis; Edward T. Staley, Tipton, and Chaa. V. Wheeler, Noblesville. Mr. Henley will devote his entire time to the work of the committee during the next two years.