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Indiana University 
The Legislature apparently recognized the constitutional provisions 
and did not even purport to determine whether or not a referendum 
should be held upon the bill to abolish the Direct Primary and return to 
the old convention system. 
In the so-called “Direct Primary” petitions there were gross evi- 
dences of fraud. A great number of signatures were obviously made by 
the same hand. Duplicate petitions with exactly the same names were 
filed from different towns. Manifest irregularities were apparent upon 
a very great proportion of the petitions that were returned. 
A postal card canvass was accordingly made and hundreds of voters 
reported back over their own signatures that their names upon the 
petitions were not signed by them. These reports came in largest num- 
bers in certain of the largest cities of the State. Further investigation 
was accordingly made and resulted in a wholesale repudiation of the 
petitions that had been filed. 
In certain cases the signature of the Justice of the Peace taking 
oath to the authenticity of the petition had been forged. Sworn testi- 
mony was presented tracing these petitions in their uncompleted condi- 
tions to the hand of the one responsible for their circulation throughout 
the State and for the filing of the petitions with the Secretary of State. 
Such circumstantial evidence does not, however, seem to warrant the 
prosecution for forgery. 
Applying the rules very carefully laid down by the Justice at the 
time a somewhat similar situation was investigated by Governor Milli- 
ken, it is plainly evident without further investigation that less than 
8,000 names have been legally filed, although 12,000 names are required. 
How many more would be eliminated by further investigation it does 
not seem necessary or desirable to learn.®^ 
It appears, therefore, that the question of the repeal of the 
direct primary will not be submitted to the people at present 
and that any further changes in the system of nominations 
must await the convening of the legislature in 1927. 
Portland Evening Express, June 25, 1925. 
