The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-13
IL Was Instituted i'm 1888 Through the
Efforts of Miss Laura DOMAIN,
an Instructor.
BODY HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM
FORMER STUDENTS THAT TOOK An
ACTIVE INTEREST.
Machine Politics, Parliamentary Pro-
cedure and other Things Re-
ceive Attention.


Shortridge High School has heard of the
Senate, but only a few persons are IA
miliar with it's origin and the work that it
does each year. The Senate is the oldest
of the schools many organizations. and by
far the most popular and best known. II
was organized in 1888 by Miss Laura DON
nan, who is the sergeant-at-arms and
critic at present. Miss Donnan is the in
structor in civil government in the Short
ridge School.
The body was a crude affair at first, but
through the untiring efforts of its origi-
nator has reached its present position in
school circles. At first the meetings were
held in Room /, which is one of the small
est in the building. 1t now holds sessions
in the largest, Room ID, which has been the
Senate chamber for fourteen years.
The purpose of the organization was to
give the students opportunity to express
their views extemporaneously and to verse
them in parliamentary law, give them prac-
tice in framing and discussing legislative
acts and to call attention TO the men who
compose the national legislative bodies by
having them use the names of the MEM
bers.
When the Senate was first organized and
held it's sessions in Room l. with about
twenty members, there were several men,
bers who are known in the city to-day.
Among those prominent in the early his
tory of the organization were Dr. Carleton
McCulloch, Henry Palmer, city editor OF
the News, Miss Grace Alexander James
Williams and ]. Wesley Bridges, a colored
politician.
PROMINENT MEMBERS
A little later new set of pupils
placed those mentioned above, among them
Lawrence Davis. Frank Baker, Claude C.
Bowers, Pax 7. Hibben, Miss Mary Sayles,
Mable Schmidt, Bernie b. Cohn and Rupert
Spahr, who is now an assistant in the book
keeping department of the Shortridge High
School The next period in the history of
the Senate is considered by many as the
most fOurishing of the body. 1t is said
that the delivery of excellently prepared
speeches was a common occurrence and the
members would speak way ahead for recog-
milton from the chair. During this time the
leading senator's were Major Downing,
Mary Pratt, Harvey Asburn Grassland,
Charlie c. Pettijohn. Louise Pugh, Cerene
Ohr and Mylo 10 Closer who is now Mrs
Frank Harrington Baker.
The present stars" who are the most
prominent in the business of the house are
probably more numerous owing to the
rapid growth of the Senate. There are now
about eighty active members. If anyone is
absent three consecutive sessions his name
is dropped from the roll, which, no doubt
accounts for the regular attendance. Prob
ably the most active and popular leaders
in the body at present are Senator Lodge
Christian), Senator White CFrankwood
Williams), Senator Pritchard Carl Pritch-
ard, who was the attorney for the defense
In the late trial of Senator Deboe in which
the latter was acquitted. Senator Pritchard
is the president of the Senate. Another
well-known member of the house is the
talkative gentleman from California
ernest Cohn) Among the rising young
senators are Laura Potter, who is the only
fair member brave enough 10 argue against
the masculine portion, Senator Butler CAL
bert Burns). Senator Blackburn CWinnifred
Holtoni and several others who give
promise of making things interesting for
the old senators.
The meetings of the shortridge High
School Senate are held every Friday after
noon at Ais in Room d. and visitors are
always welcome, the gallery being an
interesting feature of the sessions. Bills
are introduced and discussed referred to
committee and voted as in the United
States Senate. The house is governed by
Roberts's rules of order A trial of some
this year being the feature of the meet
ings and drawing the biggest attendance
since the organization of the body.
BILLS EACH SESSION.
There are a number of bills which are
introduced at every session Among these
are the woman suffrage bill, the tariff bill,
the foreign immigration measure, the prize
fight bill and those to meet the questions
of the day. Aside from the discussion OF
these measures the Senate often turns it's
attention to lighter work and devotes a
few minutes to trough house." at which
time the office OF president is now anything
but desirable, because that individual is a
decidedly busy person keeping order and
answering the many questions Of informa-
ton, personal privilege. etc, which come
thick and fast at this time Another office
holder whose duties are heaviest during
the time following the starting OF some
thing is the custodian, who is kept busy
opening the windows in order that the gal
lery may not suffocate while the hot air"
is escaping.
However. the organization, for the most
part, attends strictly to a discussion of
bills and only fosters the rough house"
spirit TO relieve the mOnOtOny. The sue
cess of the Senate is due largely TO the in
terest which the school at large manifests
in 1t. every meeting being we'll attended.
Much amusement is caused by the girls OF
the school bringing large boxes of fudge
and pickles and. in fact, eats of all kinds
TO the meetings. These little impromptu
parties cause the sergeant-at-arms to keep
a close watch over the gallery, and the
senator's many times forget their official
capacity and gently rebuke the visitors fol-
using the Senate chamber for lunch room.
The political side of this organization is
exceedingly well developed and very inter-
esting. Just before elections, which are
held every six weeks the candidates begin
to get their organization" perfected and
commence an active canvass for votes.
Usually the office Of president is the most
popular, while that of custodian is avoided.
MACHINE POLITICS.
Recently machine politics have become
prominent even in the Shortridge Senate.
and the Office seeker who is backed by the
Deboe faction is nearly always a winner
This machine has been i'm existence since
the trial of the Kentucky senator, and is
made up of those who were in sympathy
with the accused However, II is rumored
that there is movement on foot 10 down
the DebOe machine and defeat it's man al
the next election. IL is not known who
the anti-machine candidate is. The good
work the Shortridge Senate is doing and
what has been accomplished in the past
is best seen by the manner in which former
members of the body speak Of this Organiza-
ton and the good results TO be derived
from II. In every instance the senator's
who return and address the Senate after
several years absence speak in the highes.
praise OF the training received in this in
stitution and say that more good has been
derived from the experience while mem
Der OF the Senate than from any other one
phase Of school work.
Miss Donnan says that the organization
Al Dresent Is in as fOurfshine condition