Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 March 1915 — DEMOCRATIC NEWS LETTER. [ARTICLE]

DEMOCRATIC NEWS LETTER.

(By Lew Ellingham.]

Indianapolis, March IK. —The most important legislation enacted by the sixty-ninth general assembly was the .bones "'compulsory primary law. According to its provisions the whole system of party political government is changed. On one stated day, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in (March, every candidate for every township), county and district office is nominated by a direct primary election. On this same day delegates to the state convention are elected, as are also precinct committeemen, and a presidential vote for first and second choice for the offices of President, vice-president, United States senator and governor, providing these officers are elected in these election years. Should a candidate for. governor or these other offices not receive a majority of the votes cast as first choice, then • the candidate receiving a majority 'of the first and second choice shall be declared the nominee and the delegates to 'the state convention are morally at least bound to cast their ballots for them. Within one week or to be exact on Saturday following the primary, the precinct committeemen are to' meet at the county seats of the several counties of the state, and organize by the election of chairman and other officers. The county chairmen elected on this day are to form the district organization and elect the district chairman, and tlie district chairmen form the state central committee and elect the state chairman. Outside of the organization of the county committee no time is specified for the organization of the district and state committees. The act, however, requires that the state committees are to meet within .six months after the taking effect of this act and adopt rules for their conduct and these rule's' must comply in every respect to this primary law. The basis of representation in the state convention is the same as has been in vogue for a good many years, one delegate for every two hundred votes east for Secretary of state, and one. delegate for every fraction of one hundred or more votes cast for such officer. Every candidate for a state office coming under the preferential provisions, must file with the secretary of state a declaration of his candidacy, the filing of this declaration must not be later than thirty days before the primary, and such candidate must pa J- a fee of one per cent of one

year’s salary or income of the office sought. This same rule applies to the district, county and township. Where the salary is one hundred dollars or less no fee is required. The fees to go into the treasuries and is used to pay A part of the expenses of the primary election. Different colored ballots are to be used by the different political parties coming under the provisions of this act, and the county clerks are to be chairmen of the county election boards, these boards to be comprised of two other members, they to be appointed by th© county clerk. This is a brief butline ofl the provisions of the primary law. All the provisions of the general election laws are to govern in the primary. Violations are the same, as are also elegibility of voters. Registration books of the last election give a list of the voters, and in case of a change of precinct an affidavit properly signed and to, will be accepted by the election officials. Every effort and every protection of the Australian ballot law—-another democratic measure—will be afforded in giving to the state of Indiana an honest, clean and healthy primary. If the law works to the perfection which its framers and sponsors believe, Indiana will have no need to bow its head in shame over this law enactment. It is now - the duty of every citizen of the state to accept the law and to see to it that every one of its provisions is carried out to the letter. —-:o: Candidates for governor will now begin to make themselves known. The first democrat to recognize the new primary -with a partial announcement of his candidacy was the Hon. Mason J. Niblick, who all during the legislative session was an ardent primary advocate. He is giving the question of his candidacy serious consideration, and many others will soon follow and it is safe to say that the first state wide primary will be the most interesting policital event that ever happened in the state of Indiana. —: o: : —■ Copies of the Acts of. 1915 will be more eagerly sought on account of; this primary law, than for any] other one of the many enactments, j It so completely revolutionizes the 1 ways of politics that every person who takes part in the game will want to know where he is at. —:o:Indianapolis, March 16. —Senator John W. Kern, the junior Indiana senator, returned Wednesday morning from the seat of congressional war at Washington, D. C, He has been absent almost constantly since last December, ahd from the time .he was sworn in as a member of the greatest lawmaking body in the United States, he has been almost continuously serving his country as such office/. It was a long, strong pull, but Senator Kern stayed right with the job, and was absent but little during all that time. His career in the senate has never been equalled in the history of the senate. Usually a new senator is not permitted by the ancient customs of this branch of congress to even

r move to adjourn during the first two yeai-s of his ..senate residence, but immediately after the induction of Senator Kern into the official sanctuary of the senate of the United States, a majority of his party senators conferred upon him the leadership of the senate. This honor and distinction carried great power, and made him the personal representative of the president in all matters between the senate and” the chief executive. He has carried this additional honor well and given the senate a few Hoosier practices which [had been unheard of before. He made more than good and now comes back home to enjoy the freedom of a well earned and merited vacation, and the acquaintance of his family and friends as well. He brought with him a great inspiration of the big things accomplished during the presidency of Woodrow Wilson, and . the democratic majorities of both houses of congress. He believes with President Wilson that more progressive and real legislation has been enacted by congress during the- past two years, than was enacted into law in all the time since the civil war. The democrats in Washington believe that the country will now enjoy a season of prosperity, notwithstanding the fact that Europe is enthralled in war. It is the Washington belief that the business interests in this country will be compelled to realize the merit of. the many good laws passed by congress, and no matter how much the republican leaders may pull back on the halter, they will never be able to manufacture a panic just to affect the political fortunes of some of the men who make more money out of politics than they do in pushing American industry. The next year will be w'atched with more than ordinary interest, and I am willing to gamble that Woodrow Wilson and the American people will beat the politicians at their own game. That is, that good times and prosperity will come in spite of those who are now praying for soup houses and the lean dinner pail. . . ■ —:o:- * Governor Ralston has placed the finishing touches upon every measure that was presented to him for his official signature or veto. It is a tiresome drag to every legislative enactment that iV presented to the chief executive, but Governor Ralston has never permitted a bill of either of the two sessions to receive his O. K. without digging into the proposed law and pulling out of the fire all the jokers that are many times contained in these bills, and some times it is necessary to read between the lines to find the kicker. As a result of this thorough dissection the governor has used the veto with freedom and frequency. Not much vicious legislation gets by him all of which further exemplifies the fact that it id" well to have at the head of our state government a man who knows a thing or two and is not afraid to give expression to his own ideas and opinions;

TAKE NOTlCE—Aceiyline welding must be cash after March 1. — HEMPHILL BROS.