The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-06-21
Dry Leaders of Party Would
Not Be Disp|eased if Control
of the Legislature Was Di-
vided.
DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY
MEANS LAWS REPEAL
Dry Candidates in Several
Democratic StronghoIds
Have Been Nominated -
Senate Fight Is Warm.
palladium Specially

palladium Specially
indianapolis, June 21.-Politicians
are doing much figuring on the pos
sible political complexion OF the legis-
1ature next winter. and from demo-
cratic source it IL learned that there
are many democrats who hope to see
one house democratic and the other
republican. Such result may be
brought about. too. because the move
ment in that direction has had its or
dgin among the dry democrats OF the
state. They are said to be consider
ing this plan as a p.eans Of saving the
county local option law from repeal.
A well known democrat in Tippe-
canoe county was the source from
which the information came that such
q plan may be worked out. He called
attention to the fact that II both
houses OF the legislature are won by
the democrats 1t will be almost GER
tain that the county option law will
be wiped off the statute books. be-
cause the democratic state platform
declares In favor Of township and
city option law instead Of the county
unit. There will be some dry demo-
Gratis elected to the legislature. This
much IL sure.
TO stem the Tide.
Dry democrats have already been
noginated in some Of the districts
which are solidly democratic. This
insures the temperance people Of rep
Tesentation at least on the democratic
side OF the house. But II the demo-
Gratis were to have big majority in
both branches of the legislature even
these dry democrats would probably
be unable to stem the tide against
the county option law and save it from
elimination.
There are many democrats in Indi-
ana who are more deeply interested
In saving the county option law than
in electing United States senator.
This Is apparent from the amount of
work which they are doing to NOM
mate dry democrats for the legisla-
ture.
According to the figures made by a
man here who keeps up on things po-
1itical the senate next winter will be
. mighty close affair. with neither
party holding more than a majority
Of one or two votes. There are TWEEN.
Sy.six senator's to elect this year.
Twenty-Five new ones are elected ev-
cry two years. the other twenty-five
holding over. The term of office is
four years, which covers two sessions
Of the legislature.
A Democratic Vacancy.
The reason there are twenty-six
senators to elect this year is because
Of the death Of Senator Mccullough,
o. Madison county. leaving . vacancy
on the democratic side.
According to the figures mentioned
che republicans are sure Of electing
eleven and the democrats eight of the
twenty-six. leaving seven doubtful
There are ten republican holdovers
ard fourteen democratic holdovers, as
6 result OF the election of 1908.
This means that the republicans
are certain Of twenty-one members OF
the senate and the democrats certain
of twenty-five. II the republicans elect
four OF the doubtfuls and the demo
Gratis three 1t will make the senate q
tie, each side having twenty-five mem
bers. This would, of course, give
Lieutenant Governor Hall the deciding
vote. But the republicans believe they
will be able to elect five out of the
seven doubtfuls. which. If they are
able to do 1t, will give them a majority
Of one in the senate and keep the de
Gliding vote out Of the hands of the
lieutenant governor.
In the senate. however, there I.
sure to be some dry democrats, anc
there Is not the slightest danger that
there will be any wet republicans
This would assure the safety of the
county option law.
Fighting for House.
II Is said by the Tippecanoe demo
erat that the dry democrats will prob
ably try to elect a good sized demo
cratic majority in the house. leavins
the senate to the republicans. The,
believe, he said. that they can cleo
q majority OF democrats to the house
but that It Is doubtful IL they can gel
control OF the senate. OF course. he i:
figuring on having a democratic ma
5ority on joint ballot SO as to cleo
John w. Kern United States senator
but at the same time he says he be
lieves the dry democrats can preven
the repeal Of the county option law.
Just how far the dry democrats will
60 with this plan remains to be seer
but the TiDpecanoe man seemed sur,
that It would be attempted.
Thomas Taggart has sprung a new
one on the democratic editors OF tn,