Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 306, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1915 — FOR A DECISION ON PRIMARY LAW [ARTICLE]

FOR A DECISION ON PRIMARY LAW

Gov. Ralston Appoints Republican, Democrat and Progressive As a Committee to Define Law. Governor Ralston Friday appointed W. W. Spencer, democrat; Wm. H. Thompson, republican, and Willitts A. Bastian, progressive, as a committee to “construe, explain and define the meaning of the new primary election law,” to the end that mistakes and confusion may be avoided. The names were suggested to the governor.,by the chairmen of the three political parties. The governor’s action is set out in a procalmation, as follows: » “Whereas, The General Assembly of 1915 enacted a state-wide primary election law for the holding of primary elections and conventions by political parties for the nomination of such parties and providing penalties for the violation thereof, and, “Whereas, The proper constructon and meaning of said laiw is of vital importance to the voters of the state of all parties, and in recognition of such importance, and at the suggestion of the executive department, the chairman of each of the three leading political parties in the state has selected a citizen of his party, who is a judge of the laiw and advised in legal construction, to act as a member of a joint committee to construe, explain and define the meaning of said law.

“Now, therefore, I, Samuel M. Ralston, governor of Indiana, by agreement of the executive with the state chairmen of the said parties, and at their request, do hereby designate and appoint the following named citizens and lawyers of Indiana to represent such parties respectively as members of said joint committee, whose duty it will be to construe, explain and define the true meaning of said primary election law, to the end that mistakes and confusion may be avoided and the franchise rights of all the voters of Indiana may be safeguarded: For the democratic party, William W. Spencer; for the republican party, William H. Thompson; for the progressive party, Willetts A. Bastian. “And that this committee shall report the result of their work to the governor and to the chairmen and members of the state committees of their agreement thereto, the same to be binding upon their party organizations in the carrying out of the provisions of said primary law.”