The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-17
Democrats and Republicans
Like to Hold the Supreme
Court Decision Wipes Ques-
ton Out of Politics.
1T ALSO eliminates
HON. J. FRANK HANlY
He Cannot Now Appear Be.
fore the Next Republican
Convention and Make a De-
mand for Prohi Plank.
palladium Specially


palladium Specially
Indianapolis. Ind. Dec. l1.-Damo.
that the supreme court has put the
liquor question clear out Of politics. by
its decision holding that the local op-
tion law is constitutional They say
that there is now no need for any dec
laration whatever on this subject by
either party in the platforms next
year. and that 1t is not likely that any
declaration will be made. The party
that does make a declaration may as
well hang its fiddle on the willows. IL
the declaration is in favor of the re-
peal of the Law. Therefore. they say
the liquor question has been eliminat-
ed from politics.
The only declaration that could be
made which would mean anything
would be one In favor of repeating the
local option law. 1t is now on the
statute books just as firmly as any
other law that ever was passed. and
its validity has been upheld by the
highest court in the state.
What Might Have Been.
There Is not much danger that any
political party In Indiana will declare
for the repeal of the law said one re-
publican today. If the supreme
court had held the law unconstitutional
then there would have been room for
a declaration OF sine kind. In such a
case the declaration would probably
have been in favor of state wide pro-
hibition, because II q local option law
were not constitutional no other local
option law would ever be passed. II
the court had held the law unconstitu-
tiOnal. therefore, II would have opened
the way for J. Frank Hanly to come
into the next republican state conven-
tion and demand a prohibition plank
in the platform. But this menace Is
past. There is nothing now for Han
ly to ask for that he could get Tho
republicans are not going any farther
than they have gone on the liquor Ques-
ton. They can now say that they
put the local option law on the books
and that there is nothing more for
| them to do. They have done every
| thing that has been asked of them by
| the temperance people.
No Prohibition Vet.
But | do not believe the state OF
| Indiana is ready for state wide prohi
| bition, and the party that declares in
| favor of it will find about as tough
shedding as the party that declares in
| favor OF a repeal Of the local option
law Even the republican party will
not stand for state wide prohibition.
To do so would bring big split in the
party, and the republicans are not
courting any splits just now. So.
contend that the liquor question has
been removed from politics. notice.
however. that the brewers talk OF pre-
senting their claims to the next con-
vention and asking for the adoption OF
plank favoring law that will be
more favorable to their business. but I
do not believe they will do this when
they think IL over. They can't even
hope for any declaration along this
| line.
las I see IL now. the political activi-
ty along temperance lines next year.
| il there is any at all. will be for the
purpose OF securing the nomination ~
temperance men for members Of the
| legislature The Anti-Saloon league
will be interested in seeing that men
are nominated who will oppose the re-
peal of the local option Law. The
brewers and the liquor people will
| want to nominate men who will favor
the repeal Of the law. regardless Of
| whether any platform declaration Is
made or not Whatever activity takes
place I'm that direction, however. will
not show up until the legislature is
elected Then the liquor people will
begin their actual and active campaign
among the members to bring about the
enactment of a new regulative and re-
strictive statute
| - Party Leader.
The man who did this talking is one
OF the leaders Of the party In the state.
and II is believed that he voiced the
sentiment of a majority Of the party
workers They are all tired OF having
the liquor question staring them In the
face. and thev are glad to have an op-
rortunity TO drop It And yet. on the
other hand another republican who
stands high in the party made the dec
| laration that the decision of the su-
preme court meant that the democrats
will make an open declaration in favor
of the repeal of the local option law.
and that II they do this they will
(Continued on PAGE Fourl