The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-05
Wayne County Man Is the Act
ing Floor Leader and He Is
Consulted Constantly on
Various Affairs.
WALTER RATLIFF HARD
FOR SPEAKER TO FIND
He Occupies a Rear Seat in
The House-Gardner Not a
Candidate Again Thistle
thWaite Likes Job.

Candidate Again Thistle
thWaite Likes Job.
(Staff correspondence.)
Indianapolis, March 5.-To Senator
Roscoe E. Kirkman, of Wayne county,
Is conceded the leadership of the repub-
licans in the Indiana senate. This fact
Is not due alone to his competent tao
tics to bring about the defeat OF the
attempt to repeal the local option law,
hut in many other ways he has forged
to the front and now the question,
what does Kirkman say about TT" is
asked before the republicans attempt
any measure of any kind. Senator
Mattingly has been in the Hmelight a
Sreat deal and he Is regarded as one
Of the hardest workers in the body, but
when It comes right down to parlia-
xnentarians Kirkman is awarded the
prize.
When the republicans organized at
the beginning Of the session. Will r.
Wood and Kirkman stood out as the
most prominent figures for the leader
ship. The honor was bestowed upon
Wood. But he was made president
pro tenn and this took him off the floor
q good deal OF the time. Then it re-
manned for Kirkman to do the engin-
eering. How we'll he has succeeded
every republican senator is willing to
testify.
It Is seldom he Is found at his desk.
He is here and there about the cham
Der ascertaining the sentiments Of his
colleagues. When at his desk he is
nearly always surrounded by other
senators advising and counseling with
them and planning what piece Of STRAIT
egg to attempt next.
Hard TO Find Ratlisf.
Walter Ratliff, Wayne county's rep
resentative, sits SO far to the rear of
the house, that 1t Is hard for the
speaker to find him. When he wants
to hear and see what Is going on he
has to stand In one e the aisles. Rat
lift usually Is referred to with laugh
by attaches OF the house and by one
he has been termed "the original and
only chameleon ever produced by
Wayne county and now in captivity"
EFFICIENT Doorkeeper.
Senator Kirkman's two appointees
arc giving splendid satisfaction. One
Of these. q door keeper. who was chos-
eA from Union county, proved SO eff
Client that when the period of thirty
days for which he was appointed ex'
pired, the head doorkeeper refused to
give him up. Chief Thornburg told
Kirkman he never had man who had
done such excellent wark as door
keeper.
The other appOintee is Frank White.
sell. He Is in the enrolling room as
IN engrossing clerk and his work is
spoken OF ~ excellent The senate
engrossing committee has been hand
ed number OF bouquets by the COVER
NOR. It has been able to keep up with
the senate straight through and bills
are prepared with speed and care. All
bills have to be written by hand and
on none can there be an erasurc or q
scratch OF any kind. Even the use Of
acid to remove an Ink mark is forbid
den. The chairman OF the committee
says Whitesell is one of his most val
liable assistants.
Won't 20 Candidate.
II IL believed probable that A. NJ
Gardner will not be candidate for re
election to the house. He is represent
alive from Wayne and Fayette coun.
ties and was chosen without oppoei
ton. He does not seem to like the
work very well and friends say hi
would prefer being at home drawing
up abstracts or preparing Wills. Gard
ner has not taken any active part IN
the work Of the house, but has beer
voting to please his constituents.
eill Not Good One.
Governor Marshall will not sign til,
Brolley baseball bill, which passed tn,
senate yesterday morning. The vot,
was closer than had been expected. Tht
governor does not believe the measur,
constitutional and will permit 1t to Ii,
on his desk long enough to become ;
law by default. A number of the sen
ators who voted for the bill do not be
lieve 1t can be made to stand If eve
pua to the test by the courts. Bot
Indianapolis and Richmond attorneys
were asked about the bill yesterda,
and all said 1t could not be held good
The bill makes an exception to mum
Der OF regular occupations and base
ball. The latter Is said by attorney,
to be pure Discrimination. as base bal
can not be construed to be for the vel
fare Of the general public. Football
polo. basket ball or any other spor
might be accepted In the same man
ner. A number Of senators who vote,
against the bill yesterday said they ia
vor baseball, Int they do not see HOY
! law can - enacted 70 give It prefer
encs Over my other snort or amuse
ment.
SENATOR Kirkman. After votini
asains thu bin yesterday said ~ know
some u HI constitusnts favor 6anda,
baseball ana others are OPPOSED n
such m emergency." 10 said. ~ believ'
cnkht to vote NY own eonaelence
d Hut Aere's the poine-f d0n't ooalGy,