The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-12-16
Wednesday Fifty-six of Sixty
Democrats in the House
Promised to Support All
Planks in Platform.
SOME REPUBLICANS
FAVOR THE REPEAL
Repeal Law Will Be Intro
duccd Early in the Session
and Acted on at Once
Senate Situation.
palladium SpcciaD


indianapolis. Dec. 16.-when fifty.
six out of the sixty members OF the
Democratic majority In the next house
OF the state legislature stood on their
feet Wednesday and agreed to support
all measures In the next legislature
that have been promised In the state
platform. the county local option law
was doomed. In 10 far as the house Is
concerned.
Tho fifty-six Democrats who went
on record were all those present,
those absent from the caucus being
Wagner OF Clark county. Wright of
Warrick. Merriman OF Wells. and
Butcher OF Adams. Two. and maybe
three OF these absentecs are counted
% dry" by the temperance advo-
Gates. but their party associates say
when such men as Cravens and Clore
agree to stand by the party platform
pledges. against their own inclina-
tion. that the four absentees will join
in and make Il unanimous.
The willingness OF the dry Demo
Gratis who attended the meeting. and
the anti.saloon league has counted on
them being dry. to stand by the par
~ pledge to repeal the county local
option law and substitute therefor the
township and city unit. has determin-
cd the Democratic leaders upon two
things--haste and simplicity. 4
The repeal bill will Originate In the
house. II probably will be introduced
by NJ. c. Thornton of New Albany.
and II will be house bill number three
or four on the calendar. II will con-
tain nothing except the simple pro-
vision OF changing the unit OF local
option from county to the township
and city. No other change in the ex-
listing liquor laws will be attempted.
The liquor men themselves see the
wisdom Of not mixing the actual re-
peal bill with anything else they may
want. and no Il ID understood that no
riders or amendments will be permit
ted. No Democrat will offer any. and
should any Republican attempt to be-
fuddle the issue by introducing
amendments they will be voted down
very promptly by the Democratic ma.
jority.
No Indecent Haste.
Although no indecent haste will be
attempted in passing this repeal bill
no delay will be tolerated. The CON-
mittee will act upon Il with all expedi-
tion and II will be advanced and pass
ed ~ rapidly rs tho rules allow. II
is the hope Of the Democrats to have
tho bill through the house within the
Arst week. Then It goes to the SEN
ate whero the fight, II there Is any.
will be. As given out few days
ago the temperance forces were very
sanguine OF preventing the passage OF
the repeal In the senate. but the un-
tied front presented by the caucus OF
the members of the lower house on
Wednesday takes tho edge OF the an.
ti.saloon league claims. II party dis
cipline can line up the house. II should
do the same with the senate. Further
more II developed at the roundup Of
tho Republicans here this week that
Il II by no means certain the Republi-
can vote In the senate will be cast sol.
idly In support of the present law.
Edgar Durre. a Republican holdover
from Evansville. was elected because
he was wet and he might as well quit
politics as to be party to keeping the
county option law on the books. In
fact his friends say IL he does vote
against the repeal he will have to
quit politics and Senator Durre Is
young. able and very popular, at pres
ent chairman OF the First district Re-
publican organization. So II is not
likely he will invite himself into
private life. -...
Then there is David c. Jenkins.
newly elected senator from Kokomo.
Jenkins bad most bitter fight made
against him by tho anti.saloon league
and the temperance forces OF Howard
county. Although Republican and
upon the Republican ticket. the oppo.
sition to him went 30 far as to bring
J. Frank Hanly to Kokomo to speak
against jenkins. Hanly did SO. al
tCrpt,pnaA ~, Y,a o., E>;,ht