The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-03-22
LaboHng Men to Support Republican Ticket
me-PoHtca rom Over he
fpalladf,,m SneciaD

palladium Specially
indianapolis, March 22.-One OF the
strong factors for republican success
in the next election, and particularly
in the election of legislature, 1t
seems, has been overlooked up to this
time by the political prophets. This is
the labor vote.
The word which is circulating now
in labor circles is, that union labor en-
masse will be for the republican candi-
dates for the legislature and that they
will assume this position without
making a single demand of the repub-
licans in the way of pledges. The
labor men propose to make their vote
this fall a punitive measure for the
democrats for what they failed to do
in the last session of the legislature,
and they will leave it to the wisdom
of the republicans to be fair to the Ia
boring man in the next legislature.
Employers Liability Bill.
In the last legislature one Of tbs
most important measures that came UP
was the employers liability bill. This
bill was passed by the senate, which
was republican, and was sent over to
the house. 1t was killed unceremo-
niously In the house by the democrats.
Labor union representatives who were
around the legislative halls were
greatly displeased with this action.
They did not contend that the bill
which was killed was the best en-
ployers' liability bill which had ever
been presented. What they did OBJ
ject to was that the democratic mem
bers of the house rushed against the
bill with an ak before there was even
an opportunity to discuss the matter
and make desired changes in the bill
which would have made it accepta-
BILE.
Soon after the session of the legisla-
ture closed one of the railroad mems
organizations prepared resume of the
legislative work and printed list of
the names of members of the house
who had been friendly to labor. Not
so many names of democrats appeared
in this list In Marion county, for ex-
ample. only one or two of the repre-
sentatives were regarded as being
friendly to labor and some OF them
were openly censured for the stand
which they had taken.
Now it Is declared by F. L. Felck,
legislative representative of the Broth
erhood of Railway Trainmen, that this
organization is going to take an active
part in the legislative campaign in
every part of the state and it is said
union labor men will be at work in
every county of the state.
Suggest Compromise.
It appears now that the Taggart
people, who have been opposing the
plan of Governor Marshall for having
the democratic state convention nomi-
nate a candidate for United States
senator, will suggest compromise.
To compromise, would provide, first
of all, that the plan of the governor
as it has been outlined, shall not be
presented to the state convention. AS
a sop for the governors friends the
Taggart people would be willing to
allow the state convention to put
through a resolution declaring that
the candidate for United States senator
shall be nominated by an open ballot
legislative caucus. There would be
another resolution providing that ev-
cry candidate for United States sena-
tor shall announce his candidacy pri-
or to a certain date. The object of
all this. it is said would be to give the
voters a chance to pledge their legis-
lative candidates for the favorite for
United States senator and then the
open ballot in legislative caucus, it is
argued, would prevent the legislators
from double crossing their constitu-
ents by going back on the pledges they
had made. 1t was the secret legisla-
tive caucus which resulted in the de-
feat Of John w. Kern for United States
senator.
Could Say Harmony"
It is not known just what the COVER
nor will think of such a plan, but some
of those who favor the governors
the proposed compromise. 1t is urged
that even after such a resolution had
been adopted it would be perfectly pos
sible for the Legislators after the first
ballot, to leave the candidates to whom
they had been pledged by their con-
stituents. It would be possible for
them to go to dark horse with the ex-
cuse to their constituents that they
had been forced to take such action
for the sake of harmony.
It is argued. therefore, that this plan
would not cause Thomas Taggart to
come out in the open. Mr.. Taggart.
it is pointed out, is a postmaster at
the business of political manipulation,
and the proposed compromise would
leave the opportunity open for all
kinds of political manipulation.
It is not believed by democrats who
have heard of the proposed compro-
mise. that the governor will be salts
fled with it, although the governor Is
not discussing the question at all now.
The governor wishes the voters to be
assured just who will be elected sena-
tor il the legislature is democratic and
nomination by the state convention Is