The Indianapolis journal., 1903-02-04
LUHRING FORCES CONFIDENT.
Claim Made Confidently that Brewers
Bill VIII Pass.

The supporters of the brewers bill re-
pealing the blanket remonstrance provision
of the Nicholson law take exception to the
claims Of the opposition that there are
forty-five Republican votes against the bill
in the House and that the bill is virtually
defeated at this stage of the game They
assert, on the contrary, that they have at
least sixty-five votes for the bill and that
they can pass it at any time. They backed
up their claims yesterday with list of the
members who are standing with them, but
they would not consent that the list be
published, because it would result in an on
slaught on these men by the temperance
forces that would not only be embarrassing
but might have the effect of weakening
several of them.
the bill is placed on its passage" said Rep
resentative Luhring last evening, 'but we
shall have enough to pass 1T and few to
spare. All this talk of the opposition hav-
ing us beaten at this time is absurd 1t is
only a part of the plan of the temperance
people TO make a loud noise in the hope
that If the noise Is loud enough some MEM
bers may be frightened into voting with
them"
1t is undoubtedly fact that the vicious
attacks on the members made by some
of the temperance and church people have
had the erect of'lining up several men for
the bill who would otherwise have been
noncommittal or inclined to the opposition
The scoring given the Marion county dele
cation, in particular, by an indianapolis
minister, who proclaimed from the pulpit
and through the columns of one of the city
papers that there was not a man in the
delegation who could be trusted in moral
brewers, it is said. than all the arguments
or a dozen men can win back to the oppo-
sition.
LETTERS TO MEMBERS.
However, temperance and church people
from all over the State have addressed per-
sonal letters to many of the representa-
tives, in which they seek TO hold the men,
bers in line for the opposition by berating
them personally and threatening them with
all manner of political determination if
they dare support the BILL
1T would have been in better TASTE" said
a member. in exhibiting such a letter last
evening, IF the writer of this had waited
until he knew that was for the bill before
he roasted me viciously and told me
that would not dare come back home If 1
did not vote against the bill 1 don't know
but that fell like calling his bluff
Mr.. Luhring, in discussing the situation,
said that much of the opposition to the bill
was due to misapprehension of its force
and effect.
1T is not my desire to defeat the pur-
pose OF the Nicholson law he said. ''for
had thought my amendment would have
had that effect i would never have intro
duced the bill; Under the present opera
ton OF the Nicholson law there is too much
opportunity afforded the blackmailer and
other irresponsible persons u abuse the
power of attorney. The temperance people
OF Indiana have never sanctioned the abuse
and have done all in their power to pre-
vent 1T, but the very fact that the law per-
mits the practice has rendered their efforts
ineffectual: 1t Is therefore the purpose OF
tice In which the will often of great ma
jority OF the voters is defeated by the
holder of this power of attorney disposng
OF the same to the applicant for license for
a consideration. and I really expected the
cooperation of the temperance people in
the passage of the bill.
MR. LUHRING'S POINT.
Under the law as passed and as con-
strued by the Supreme Court general re-
monstrance was not contemplated. but it
was the intention of the Legislature that a
remonstrance should be directed against
each individual applicant for license. The
Nicholson bill was prepared by the temper
ance people. and was. at their request, en-
acted In law by the General Assembly of
1896 AT that time there was no mention
made of a power of attorney blanket re-
monstrance, and not until some six or seven
years later was the question submitted TO
the Supreme Court. 1t is. therefore. rea-
sonable TO assume that at the time the bill
was enacted this power of attorney was
I'VE have operated successfully under the
old law, and for period OF six years we
have been compelling the applicant for liq-
uor license TO abide the will of the major
ity. and I'm no instance that can recall has
that viii been defeated The amendment
seeks TO place the law where ii originally
stood. and I'm no manner does IL put IL be-
n bA vv1of tori " IN ToV