Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-21
SURE OF THE EXTRA SESSION
Local Democrats Certain Governor
Will Convene Legislature.
SOME WHO SIGNED ARE WORRIED
Don't Feel Good About that Initiative
and Referendum-Others Refused
90 sign Call without Definite
Knowledge of Plan.

1t is taken for granted in local demo-
cratic circles tina on bis return from wash
ington Governor s~hallenberger will proceed
to call an extra session of the legislature
to meet early in February.
What the call for the extra session will
contain is now the cause Of considerable
worry, even to some Of the Legislators who
hurriedly signed the pledge TO vote for the
passage OF an initiative and referendum
law. IL does not seen to be true, as claimed
by the men circulating the Mullen-Allen
pledge In Douglas county. that all but two
Of the local Representatives have signed the
pledge TO vote for Mr.. Bryan's pet measure.
Walter p. Thomas says that he refused
to sign the pledge circulated by James p.
Connolly unless he could nave a very clear
idea Of the wording OF the proposed in
itiative and referendum law.
Il don't care TO sign anything in blank"
said Mr.. Thomas.
Concerning the proposal to have indorse-
ment Of the income tax amendment EN-
bodied in the call. Mr.. Thomas said he
would not be surprised If that were
brought in.
Insurger Shoemaker Signs Yes.
w. $ Shoemaker, who insurges all the
year round Of late, and cannot be coaxed
or forced onto the Shallenberger reserva-
ton admits he signed the pledge to vote
for the proposed initiative and referendum
law.
That law ought to be p passed" said
Judge Shoemaker, who is taking an active
part I'm trying to get congressman Jim
Latta into the gubernatorial race in the
hope Of beating both Dahlman and Shallen-
berger as signally as Edgar Howard was
beaten. And / also favor the Endorsement
by this state of the income tax amend
ment."
Asked ~ he had heard any talk Of q
proposed change whereby judges of the
supreme court would be elected by dis
tricts, the local democratic insurgent said
he had not.
Il hardly believe anything like that will
be offered" said Judge hoenaker
other democrats have heard of such a
proposal, however. and Mr.. Thomas admits
that the rumor has reached him, but IN an
Indefinite form. Some men who assume to
know assert that, since the non-partisan,
judiciary act, sO-called, has been knocked
out, the governor and his managers have
determined to go after the judgeships in
another way. For the present. however.
pledges arc being solicited merely for the
support of the Bryan initiative and refer
endum The governor demanded of
Tommy Allen that he secure the sig
natures of a majority of the legislature 10
such a :ledge before any serious considera-
ton would be given to the lssuing of a
call There is nothing to prevent the gov
ernor including other matters In his proc
.amation II he wants to.
Don't Approach Senator'S.
UP to date the Douglas county senators
nave not been approached with the pledge.
The petition has not been presented TO
me-" said Senator Tanner, and l under
stood from Senator Ransom that he has
not been given a chance to sign it. either,
Maybe they are only getting house sigma
lures, since the house passed the. measure
before. l voted against it in the last session,
and, while in a general way, 1 might favor
a proper bill on the subject, 1 do not be-
iieve 1t is weighty enough to call for a
special session.,
AS to indofsing the income tax amend.
ment. Senator Tanner probably took the
position that most OF the dignified upper
house members will assume when he
said:
III Is a pet measure Of Bryan's also
but personally 1 haven't given the matter
enough attention to care to say off-hand
what l think about 1t. 1t is not a matter
to be decided lightly, since its enactment
may have a very vital effect later on.
touching the matter of state control OF thai
method of taxation