East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-09-18

Indianapolis. Sept. 1S.-Hoosier
lawmakers gathered in the capital to-
day. at the call of Governor Hanley,
TO begin what will probably be the
most important special session Of
the legislature ever held in Indiana.
Although other vital matters are up
for consideration the fight for and
against enacting a county local option
law will likely be the feature of the
session. Governor Hanly is a pro-
nounced temperance advocate and his
highest ambition is to place Indiana in
the ranks of the dry" states. Under
the Moore remonstrance law, a large
part of the state is already free OF sa-
looms. A county local option law,
such as proposed by Governor Hanly,
would likely drive the liquor dealers
from all but few large cities, and
would serve as an entering wedge for
statewide prohibition.
That the governors attempt to
force the local option measure may
have grave results on the national
election is admitted. Many politicians
believe that the acceptance or rejec-
ton by the legislature of a county To-
cal option bill is likely to change the
entire political complexion of the
campaign now in progress. The
brewers and liquor dealers realize the
gravity OF the situation and will do
their utmost to prevent the passage
Of the local option act
II the special session is harmonious
It will likely aid the republicans in
carrying the state. II a factional fight
results, the democrats will have their
opportunity. and will not hesitate to
take advantage of It. The republi-
cans will make the local option bill
a party measure and seek to whip
into line enough votes to make it a
law. but doubt exists as to the ability
of the party leaders to control the as
sembly The house. Of course, will be
the scene of the struggle If there Is
one. The republicans have SO mem
bers to ~ democrats. This Is a safe
margin II caucus action can be taken
But it Is recalled that some five OF
six republicans refused at the regular
session to go into any temperance
caucus and it is feared that these may
cause trouble.
The republicans will depend upon
temperance democrats to make up fol
the members Of their own party that
they cannot control. Several demo
Gratis voted with the republicans two
years ago for high license. These may
play politics, however, this season and
withhold support, in which even
county local option will be afar Off
Under the workings Of the Moore
remonstrance act, at the present time
there are in all 764 dry" townships
in the state out Of 1016. There are
q counties in the state which have
saloons in only one place; IS with sa.
looms in only two places, and 13 more
n which the majority Of the popula.
tion live in dry" territory.
An understanding Of the Moore re.
monstrance law may throw some lign
upon the remarkable advance Of pro.
hibition in Indiana. Under It, the ma.
jority Of voters In any township or ir
any city ward. by demonstrating ir
writing against the granting Of II.
censes are enabled to close the sa.
looms in that township for two years
Remonstrance campaigns take
place regularly It may be begun any
day, and two days later the saloons
OF the district are closed. Two dry
years are apt to make that particular
township undesirable to the saloon
keeper, who moves. never to return.
II the plans Of the anti-saloor
workers are carried out, the passage
of a county local option measure vii
be but a step toward the submission
OF constitutional amendment pro
viding statewide prohibition in 1911
A vote on this question. the "drys'
believe. would result in banishinl
Iiquor from Indiana forever.
As the situation is now. Indiana hai