The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-19
Unpleasant Predicament Of the Sena-
tor Caused by Connicting Desires
as to Sunday Baseball.
REPUBLICAN, MEMBERS CAUCUS
DECISION REACHED THAT OFFENSE
COULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED.
OF Clark, Adds to the Ex-
citement by q Remark that Stirs
Lindley's Ire.

Senator William H. O'Brien, of Law
renceburg, state chairman of the Democrat
ic party, who represents i'm the upper house
the counties of Dearborn. Franklin and
Ohio, received the public censure and con-
demnation of the Senate yesterday after
noon because of his fiat refusal to vote
baseball bill one week ago yesterday The
Senate, by strict party vote, adopted
resolution of drastic tenor prepared in
the caucus of the Republican members
held at the close of the morning session
yesterday. The action on the resolution and
incidents closely connected were of an in
tensely dramatic nature and the thunder
and lightning of repartee and recrimina-
tion ragged.
The unpleasant position in which Sena-
tor O'Brien found himself yesterday was
brought about by a peculiar combination
Of circumstances. When the bill to give
the larger cities of the State Sunday base
ball came before the public Senator O'Brien
was at home. His wife, for whom he has
singularly marked affection and who ex-
erts in all his affairs a powerful infiu-
ence, asked him not to vote for the hill
The senator consented to heed her wishes
although he realized that the sentiment
Of his constituents was that the bill shouId
pass His personal inclinations were for
the bill and he was at once placed between
the upper and neither millstones He de-
termined not to vote at all and he stuck
to that resolution unwaveringly and un-
fiinchingly.
THE OFFENSE.
When the roll was called a week ago last
Wednesday Senator O'Brien was not in his
seat. Friends and enemies Of the bin were
straining every nerve to get votes. FL
nally the senator was found by the door
keeper who had been instructed to bring
in the absentees. He took his seat. and
with set jaws and white face remained 81
lent during the tiresome reiteration of the
name 'O'Brien.' The Senate refused to
excuse him from voting. He refused To
vote. There deadlock which seemed
impossible to break. Senator O'Brien asked
to be excused on the ground that he had
personal reasons for not voting. The Sem
ate refused to accept the excuse. He made
1T even stronger and declared that he
had personal interest in the BILL Even
that was not accepted and the clerk might
have called for a week If Senator Matson
had not ended the roll with a motion
The matter was dropped for the time
DelnS, dltHOuSH IL was nlnte0 at the time
that the attitude of the senator would NOT
be suffered by the majority to pass nm
rebuked. The statement was made that he
had no right to block the business of the
State In such manner and that he had
violated his oath and the Constitution of
the State. By some there was an attemnf
to inject politics, with the remark that
Senator OBrien as State chairman of the
Democratic party thought he had the right
to do a little more than a private in the
ranks. Most of the Republicans dropped
that idea at once and said IL was absurd
They maintained. however that unless
| the senator were to be rebuked a dangerous
precedent would be set. No one man had
| the right. they said. to set himself above
| the Senate and to completely stop business
| for any such reason. 1t was his duty to
| vote either aye or no. and there was no
middle ground to be taken. The thing WA :
| talked over quietly among the Republicsn n
senator's. and the caucus was determined on
ACTION OF THE CAUCUS.
1t was held at noon in the Office of LIEN
| tenant Governor Gilbert. 1t is said that
several of the majority expressed their
| displeasure at the action contemplated. bur
| the most were for a resolution severe
enough to meet what they believed the ex-
| igencies OF the situation. The resolution
| was drawn up by Senator Dausman. Sen
ator Na&son. the Lieutenant Governor and