The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-09-16
Stand of State Legislators on
the County Local Option
Question Responsible for
Worry.
PARTIES TO CAUCUS
BEFORE FINAL ACTION.
A Few Democrats Stand for
Republicans and Some Re-
publiCans, 1t Is Feared, Will
Buck HanIy Program.

Indianapolis. Sept 16.-The uncer.
tainty of the situation as regards lin
ing up the party strength at the COM
ing special session of the legislature.
in order TO pass a local option bill,
increases with every hour. The deep
concern exists both on the republican
and democratic sides and is confined
to the house
The republican leaders. being final
ly brought to the belief that there
was absolute danger of the governors
program failing. decided that ii would
be best to call a caucus of the legis-
lators, both senate and house and at
tempt thus to fasten a pledge on ev-
cry member to support a local option
measure. The call for this caucus
was issued yesterday and the caucus
is to be held Thursday night. as an
nounced yesterday. Immediately after
the call was issued much speculation
was INDUCED in as to whether the
reclatitrant members would respond
by taking part in the caucus. Doubt
on this matter has not yet been dis
PEELED, although pressure OF the sew
crest kind has been brought to bear
on the wavering ones. The statement
that there are four rebellious MEM
bers of the house is said. today. to be
stating only part of the truth, for the
number is put higher than that by
those who profess to know That the
passage OF the local option bill is real
ly doubtful Is admitted on all sides,
and the caucus was an absolute neces-
sity. as in no other way. say the lead
who or what Is what
Brewers In Danger.
1t is asserted on good authority thar
the brewery interests will be repre-
sented at the caucus. not for the pnr-
pose OF seeking compromise but for
the purpose of telling the agents of
these interests that they had better
get out of the way and do SO quickly.
as the party is pledged to local option
and cannot turn away from the issue.
Nothing will be promised in the way
OF legislation, for the brewers. on the
contrary they will be told that some
thing will drop and drop hard unless
they cease their tampering with legis-
lators and trying to defeat the COVER.
nor's program.
The something is just this: Gov.
ernor Hanly has said to certain of
his closest friends that II his plans
are upset he will take. the stump not
Tor MS party altogether. but for the
Tnd cs-r
go into every county of the state. force
the temperance question TO the front.
regardless of politics, show up friends
and enemies and let the damage strike
where 1t may. Such a course on the
part of the governor would be disas-
trous, the leaders say, and they will
succeed in making Ii plain to the
brewers that their interests would be
nit hard IL the governor should ba
forced into such a fight by the defeat
OF his plans. III these things can be
made plain to the brewers, with their
resultant disaster. politically and 9TH
erwise. the bolters can be forced into
line and all will be well. But IL the
brewers stand firm and prefer to fight
1t out. there is no telling what may
| happen.
Democrats to Caucus.
Although nothing has yet been safd
about democratic caucus, 1t Is known
that one viii be called, az there is
danger OF desertions on this side of
the fence, just as there is on the 9TH
er. True, the democratic leaders be-
lfeye that the democratic members of
the house are safely lined I'D on the
blocking policy. but they are not sure
enough OF this to permit the taking
OF vote without first knowing to a
certainty just where everybody In.
The brewery interests are also playing
on this side of the fire and Ii is any.
thing to beat the governor The demo-
cratic caucus will probably be called
for Friday-possibIy as I2te as Sat
urday. There are those among the
democratic leaders who believe that
MISTAKE Is being made in attennt-
ing to block the local option program
OF the republicans, and among these
ID former democratic official. who
said:
Are Not Happy.
Il for one am opposed to the nosy-
ton assumed by my party's represen-
tatives- 1t would be the wise thing in
my opinion, to vote solidly for the 10
cal option measure. thus showing 10
the people that we are for anything i'm
the way of temperance legislation.
Suppose that the local option bill is
passed despite the opposition OF the
democrats in the house The repubn-
cans would find themselves in posses
sion of splendid card. Their sneak
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