The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-04
Senator From Wayne County
Accorded the Honor Of De-
feating the County Option
Repeal Bill.
TACTICS EMPLOYED By
HIM WERE SUCCESSFUL
Great Fight Lasted for Days
And When the Battle Was
Over, Senator Kirkman Was
Almost Exhausted.
Palladium bureau,


To Senator Kirkman. of Richmond,
more than to any other one man or any
other one influence. is due the credit
for having saved the county local OPP
ton law from repeal, and If the tenn
perance forces of the state do not rec
ognize him as they should for the part
he played in the fight to save the law.
they will be ungrateful. Senator Kirk
man led the fight that killed the Tom
linson bill. and this bill was the only
one that ever had any chance whatev-
er Of being passed to repeal the coun-
ty option law.
During the last week Senator Kirk
man has shown himself to be a mas
ter of parliamentary law and a leader
in the senate. In fact, if it had not
been for his excellent generalship in
the fight, the Tomlinson bill might not
have been killed. But he was equal to
every demand that was made and met
every move of the repealers with d
counter move that blocked them at ev-
cry point But it was hard and
hair raising fight that lasted for days
anu WHICH II was oNCl 0OhQtOl AAAl IA
man was a tired man. ~
kirkman Was Crafty.
The republicans were never sure un-
til Monday night that they would have
enough votes to prevent the repeal OF
the county option law. All along they
counted Senator Wood as against them
and Senators Orndorf and Gonnerman
were doubtful. They figured that it
would be unwise to allow the Tomlin-
son bill to come to vote before they
had assurance that it could be killed.
They knew Orndorf and Gonnerman
would vote for the bill if it were
amended to provide for flat thousand
dollar license fee. and Kirkman plan
ned to prevent the bill from being
amended in any manner SO as to
strengthen it. That was why he rails
ed so many points of order against the
motions to change the order of bust
ness so the democrats could get the
Tomlinson bill before the house. He
knew if they got it on the floor they
would seek to amend it and that they
might succeed. Then Gonnerman and
Orndorf would vote for it and pass it.
Submits His Tactics.
Kirkman submitted his opposition
tactics to his fellow republican county
option senators and finally they agreed
that it was a good one. He had a
plan worked out by which he could,
with parliamentary practice. delay and
obstruct the advancement of the Tom
linson bill for four days. Then, he
pointed out, he had another plan that
would still block the thing indefinite
ly. 1t was finally agreed that Kirk.
man should employ his tactics and
work along his plan of action.
On Monday night the county option
supporters in the senate held a caucus
all on the quiet and when they found
that they could prevent the bill from
being amended, Gonnerman and Orn-
dorf pledged themselves to stand op.
posed to repeal. This made twenty
six votes sure for the killing Of the
Tomlinson bill. and II Senator Wood
voted with them they would have
twenty-seven.
Did Right Thing.
Right there it was decided to lie;
the bill come on the floor whenever