The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-02-22
They Are Now of the Opinion
That It Win Be Practically
Impossible to Repeal Coun-
ty Option Law.
PLATFORM MEASURE is
ALSO SURE OF DEATH
Kleckner Bill Fell Down Mis-
erabIy in Senate and RatIiff
Only Republican Supporter
In the House.
Palladium Bureau,

Indianapolis, Feb. e.
The democrats have about given up
all hope of being able to repeal the
county option law, and it need not be
surprising to- see this session of the
legislature adjourn with that law still
on the books. The Tomlinson bill is
doomed to defeat and the kleckner bill
never had any nance to become a law.
1t is even said that Senator Fleming
has given up hope of repeating the law,
though Fleming is not saying anything
about what he thinks. 1t is said that
he has, however, stated to friends that
he does not expect the Legislature to
change the county option law.
Fleming Not Affected.
OF course, it makes little difference,
personally. to Fleming, whether the
law IS repealed or not, for it is believ,
ed hat Allen county and Lake county
would neither one, vote themselves
dry. and it is in these two counties
that most of the beer made by Flem-
ing's brewery, is sold. So his business
is safe under n circumstances.
The democrats are o able to pass
lllC NlCShAC! - III tuC SCl1dlS. lAS
tried it once and failed to get enough
votes to pass it. This bill proposes
to repeal the county option law and
substitute for it., township and ward
option, in line with the democratic
state platform. 1t is the party meas
ure, and yet there are eleven demo
Gratis in the house who say they will
not under any circumstances vote fol
the kleckner bill or. any other bill,
that would repeal county option
| There are sixty democrats in the
house. Counting off eleven of then
you have 40 as the limit of those whC
will support the Kleckner bill. Only
one republican will vote for tht
Kleckner bill. : He is Representative
Ratliff, of Wayne county. This woult
make an extreme total of fifty votes
for the passage of the bill, or just ont
vote short of enough to pass it.
kIiver Is Doubtful.
There are some who believe tina
Representative kliver. of Lake county
will vote for the Kleckner bill, bu
Kliver has said that he will not. I
Is Salu. however, Una he mdy NOte ~
it in order to carry out a deal b,
which a number of votes were lined vi
for the passage of the Gary court bill
but it is not likely. judging from pres
ent indications. Much will depend Of
the action of the governor with refer
ence to the Gary court bill as t
whether Kliver votes for or agains
the Tomlinson bill. If the governo
signs the Gary court bill Kliver proba
bly, would be bound to vote for tn
Kleckner bill. If the governor vetoe
the Gary bill. and it is not at all Ut
likely that he will. Kliver will not the
be bound to vote for the Kleckner bill.
for the deal will then be all off. @
course, if Kliver votes for the bill.
may get through the house.
Senate Will Kill 1t.
But even if it does pass the house
the senate will kill it. for there are nc
more than twenty-one democratic Sc.
ators who will vote for it. Mozart
and Tilden are openly opposed to i
There are only twenty-three democrat
in the senate. This would make
necessary for the six republicans t