The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-05-21

ters, such as the county local option
law. The members Of the committee
said so themselves, and they ought to
know. They said the local option ques-
ton was matter Of small concern, as
compared with the great questions of
foreign missions and the refunding of
the public debt of the Fiji islands. The
local option matter is not troubling
the brewers-not in the least Far be
1t from them to worry over that. But
they are sorely distressed over the lack
of interest in foreign missions and the
Fiji public debt. The members Of the
ways and means committee, especially
Albert Lieber of this city, Joseph
Schaaf Of this city, Steve Fleming of
Fort Wayne. Mr. Schillinger of Misha-
walxa, and one or two others, expressed
deep concern over these problems and
their utter Observation-Disclosures in the 10
cal optic nsituation. And when they
admit that the local option situation
does not interest. of course, the public
is almost certain to believe what they
say.
Talk Foreign Matters Only.
The meeting of the ways and means
committee was held at the Claypool ho-
tel, behind closed doors No outsiders
were allowed to hear the plans that
were laid to push missionary work in
Africa and to refund the Fiji national
debt The committee felt that topics
of such weight and Importance had best
be settled without the aid of the pub
lie and away from listening ears and
prying eyes Long after the close of
the committee meeting the members
stood around the lobby of the hotel and
admitted to anxious inquirers that they
did not even discuss the local option
question. It was not even mentioned.
they said When they were asked if
it were not a fact that the committee
gave deliberate consideration to the
best plan for heading off the local OPP
ito nwave in the larger counties of the
state, such as Marion, Allen, st. Joseph,
vigo, vanderburg and Lake, they an
swered that they never thought of such
thing. Mr.. Schaaf even grew hilar-
ious and laughed vociferously when he
was asked about 1T.
May Look After Lake Co. in 1850.
Some of the members of the ways and
means committee admitted that at some
future time, possibly years from now,
they may take up this matter and dis
pose of it some afternoon after every
thing else is done, however. They real
ize that some of these days the local
option bug will hit the counties named
and that the brewers will have a fight
on their hands the like of which they
have not had since Heck was a pup
! Rumors on the side lines have it that
the brewers are very much excited over
| the prospect of fights for their bust
ness lives in these counties, the larg-
est IN the state, and that they are max
ing arrangements TO meet the situa-
tion as best they can.
Steve Fleming the Big Barrel.
It is said that Steve Fleming acted
as chairman of the ways and means
committee during yesterdays meeting
and that he was liberal in his allow
ance of time to the various members
who wished to speak on the mission
question and the question of how Il
refund the Fiji debt. Fleming has sue.
ceeded Crawford Fairbanks as chair
man of the ways and means committee
as a result of the election last fall No
that Fairbanks is out OF 1t, mind you
! but he is only a common member Of