The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-09-26

Indianapolis. Sept 26.-The most
stringent temperance bill ever consid-
cred by the Indiana legislature. be-
came law this morning when the
lower house of the legislature passed
by a vote of 55 to As the county local
option bill. The vote was great sur
prise to the republican leaders. who
thought they would be fortunate IL
they ucceeded in forcing the bill
through with majority of one or two.
Never before was there such a
crowd in the house as assembled this
morning and when the result of the
vote was announced frantic cheering
began which lasted for a considerable
length Of time, 1t was spectacle
which will probably not be seen again
in the house for years to come. Every
prominent republican leader in the
state was on the floor when the vote
was taken, emphasizing the fact that
the republican state organization had
done everything in its power to force
through the county local option bill,
notwithstanding the fact that the ma
jority of the leaders opposed the con-
sideration of such bill at special
session of the legislature.
Republicans Oppose.
The democrats who voted for the bill
were Green, Hotel. Mckinney, Pier
son, Sicks and White The republi-
cans who voted against themeasure
were Condo, Keller. Schroeder and
Geiss. The action OF Green, White
and Mckinney voting for the bill, came
as great surprise to the republicans,
as 1t was generally thought they were
irrevocably opposed to it's passage.
The four republicans who voted
against the measure were expected to
do so.
Johnson of vigo county and Bowlus
and Billingsly of Indianapolis, were
thought to be opposed to the bill, but
they were whipped into line shortly
before the session this morning.
Dramatic Incident.
One Of the most remarkable and
dramatic incidents connected with the
passage of the bill was furnished by
johnson of Vigo county, a republican.
1t was thought he would vote against
the bill. When he was called upon to
vote, Johnson arose and, looking down
at his daughter who had been seated
at his side. he said, Mr.. Speaker,
can't, I can't vote aye" Johnson
then sat down sobbing. saying that he
had not been able to eat or sleep for
days. His action was greeted by the
most frantic cheering.
The voting started at 1915 o'clock
and after the reading of the minutes
of the previous session had been dis
pensed with. Tom Honan. the demo-
cratic floor leader tried to offer a
motion to dispense with the further
consideration of the bill. He called
upon the speaker until almost black
in the face, but he was not recognized
until two votes had been taken. Ho-
nan was then permitted to offer his
motion. but the speaker cut him off
with the remark, your motion is out
of order.
The aged Mr.. Sweeney. democrat,
temporarily raised rninpus by de-
nouncing the republicans for ruthless
~ trampling upon the rights of the
democrats. After the Sweeney erup-
tion had been quieted the roll call pro-
ceeded quietly until Green. supposed to
be opposed to the bill, voted for it.
Eedlam them broke loose.
Bribes Offered.
When Honan's time to vote came he
made fiery denunciation OF the re-
publicans. taunting them with voting
against their convictions and accusing
them with having been bought off
with promises of fat public Jobs.
When Hostetter, democrat, voted
against the bill he stated he had been