The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-01-07
SixtyFifth Session of Gen
eral Assembly to Open
This Week.
REFORM IN THE DOPE
Fight Over Bills Under This Classi.
fcation Conducted on
Bipartisan Basis.

The big show begins in Indianapolis
this week. 1t opens here for a sixty
one day run and will be the main at
traction on the local boards during that
time. There are predictions that its
popularity will be so great that 1T will
hold longer, that is not generally re-
garded as being probable, however.
On Thursday, Jan. 10, the sixty fifth
session of the general assembly will
begin, and last along into the middle
of March. 1t promises to be the most
important session in recent years. and
If 1t does not belle its promise it will
be a session that will result in an un-
usual number of changes in the state.
The game that is to be played is the
reform game. The legislature. the law
making power is to help out the execu-
tive power, a reform governor Radi-
cal changes are looked for. This, at
least. it said to be the program that
has been published as being that Of
the dominant party in the state. The
next nine weeks will prove the truth
or falsity of the report.
For Reform and Changes.
SO far as the chief executive is con-
cerned. at least, reform and radical
changes are the watchword. So far as
Hanly has anything to do with the
shaping of legislation, so-called reform
measures Will be emphaized. And
thus the situation resolves itself into
test as to the influence that the chief
executive has. directly and indirectly,
through his hold upon the people of
the state.
further analysis crystalizes this
legislature as further test a test be-
tween the reform factors, including the
governor. and the so-called Interests"
Both sides will fight for their positions;
both sides are strongly entrenched
practically as we'll as theoretically
Votes will be fought for, and men. Men
who yesterday were of comparative un-
| Importance in their local communities
are of supreme Importance here, how
ever much or however little they
know; they will vote, and votes count
An incomplete list of the interests"
will show the strength of the oppo-
sition: Breweries and distilleries;
private banks for one reason and state
and national banks for another; rail-
roads. perhaps interurbans; insurance
companies. large Industrial corpo-
rations; these and other large interests,
TO which may be added the score and
more of smaller interests
An outlay sufficiently forbidding to
command the respect that strength al
ways commands; an outlay that by
sufficient and efficient combination can
almost win-and perhaps quite win
The chances are against them but the
margin of safety for the reform meas
ure is not counted as large. Interests"
have devious way to obtain and none
of these ways are in danger of becom-
ing lonesome through neglect.
In Union Strength.
1t seems apparent that strict party
politics will not be sufficient to win
the game for the so-caued reform
movement Certainly not the demo-
Gratis alone; and probably not the re-
publicans alone. Here, too, must there
be a combination that approximates
the combination of the opposition to
a degree, at any rate. 1t need not be
so fixed; it need not be so close: but
1t must obtain to greater or less de-
gree.
To an extent, therefore, the contests
over so-called reform bills will neces-
sarily be conducted on a non-partisan
or one might say. a bipartisan basis
Some possible dereliction among the
republicans may make this necessary
In any event some democrats are to
be depended upon, and If they prove
their loyalty to the matters in ques-
ton. they will be given credit to that
extent.
The so-caIled Taggart democrats are
not to be counted among the possible
supporters of these measures They
are to be counted against them. The
antI-Taggart democrats are to bt
counted in line; they are to get the
credit for what they do And incident
ally, they are to form the nucleus fol
a new democratic party in the state.
So much for the dope sheet" Tht
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