Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1916 — COMMITTEE DECIDES PRIMARY QUESTION [ARTICLE]

COMMITTEE DECIDES PRIMARY QUESTION

Candidates For Governor and U. S. Senator Must Get Majority Or Contest Goes to Convention. Indianapolis, Jan. 21.—The committee which has the interpretation of the primary law under way has decided, along with the state chairman and attorney-general that tire law means that candidates for United States senator and governor must have a majority of all the first-choice | votes cast in the primary, and if any such candidate does not get a majority, the state convention shall make the nomination. It seems probable under this ruling that the state con vention will have some of such nominations to make. In regard to candidate president and vice presi dent the finding is that they Aust have a majority of first-choice votes cast in order to receive the support of the state delegation. Section No. 28 of the law is to be followed in tabulating the votes, but the process of elimination will not be effective unless one of the candidates has a majority of the votes cast. If it requires a majority of the first-choice votes to nominate, it is hard to understand why there should be a tabulation of second-choice votes. Some of the members of the commission seemed unable to explain this, and others said it would be explained later. The interpretation of is that second-choice votes shall be counted for all other candidates and -all nominations. The delegate slates for the state conventions must be filed not later than twenty days prior to the conventions. The interpretation committee, with the party organization officials, has agreed that the democrats shall use White ballots, the republicans red ballots and the progressives yellow ballots at the primary. It is expected that the county election officials will adopt these colors. As soon as the committee completes its interpretation, its finding will be turned over to oGvernor Ralston. It will then be printed and distributed to election officials. It is understood there has been no disagreement among the state chairmen in regard to the proposed interpreta tion of the law.

Benjamin F. Hopkins, son of S. H. Hopkins, has been spending a few days here and left this morning for Wabash, where he will work in a garage. He has spent the past two years on a claim of 160 acres near Havre, Mont., has proved it up and rented it and will not return to the west again for a time. Republican County Chairman McLain has appointed C. C. Warner on the board of election commissioners and it is expected that the democratic chairman will make a recommendation soon. The. third member of the board -is County Clerk Perkins. The board has full authority in making preparations for the primary election, preparing the tickets and getting them printed.