The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-02-16


Of the largest wet counties where the
liquor interests dominate. None other.
apparently, needs apply to Fleming.
Wells Tells Startling Story.
Speaking of paying the freight, Rep
resentative Wells, Democrat, is tell
ing startling story of the secret man.
ipulations of the men who are trying,
under Steve Fleming's leadership, to
build a Democratic political machine
that will serve Governor Marshalls
political ambitions.
Wells says that the trustees and as
sessors-the township officers of the
state of Indiana, are being tolled into
line with the promise that they shall
have two years added to their terms
of Office. A bill is in the house to pro-
vide for the additional two years.
Now the Democratic governor told
the township trustees and assessors in
state convention that he favored in
I creased salaries for them. Thereat
the officers cheered heartily. The gov
ernor did not have the moral courage
to carry forward this suggestion into
law He was playing to please the
ear. But he is a shifty governor, and
where he cannot increase pay, he may
/ find another way.
At any rate, according to the story
/ told to Representative Wells by a
Fourth district township trustee, the
trustees of the Fourth district in con-
vention assembled not long ago, were
assured that if they would lie down
and cease criticising the public ac-
counting board a bill would be offered
and passed to give every township off.
Ger two extra years in Office without
campaign expenses of any kind at
tached. This, 1t was pointed out
would be equivalent to a neat salary
increase.
Unworthy Of a Statesman.
The trustees and assessors have
been meek as sheep toward the &C
counting board, where formerly the,
were rampant and bitter. If the game
can be forced through. of course it II
possible that the governor will prof.
politically by the conspiracy. But the
scheme IL scarcely worthy of states
man.
It Is not at all certain what will hap
pen to the accounting board In thi!
session. The friends of the law hst
the scare of their lives the other da!
In the house. Representative Wells''
proposal to change the accounting
board and to do away with one-mal
power IL the board, received forty
seven votes. The accounting boar
crowd mustered only forty-seven. Tn
speaker announced that the governor
crowd had won, 4S to A, and the pla.
was passed without comment. But o
q matter of fact, the administrator
was forced to vote the speaker, ate
the thing was all over, in order t
make the rifle and save the law
, Logic Of the Situation.
, Then Il was necessary to make
! diversion and attack the law from al
other side, In order to head of tn
IL regarded as good in principle, an
there will be a determined effort t
save 1t and strengthen it. But q goo
: law, unfairly administered, can b
!. made extremely dangerous and VI
5 popular. The logic of the present ST
r uation Is that w. A. Dehority, the chic
4 examiner, must get out IL the law
D to be saved. Dehority's scalp is th
8 price the governor must pay the revol
: ing Democrats for the preservation {
1 the accounting law. 1t Is intimate
that Dehority will be sacrificed.
Y that event 1t is said that Steve Flen
= ing's man. George Bittler, may b
d pushed for the place. 1t is not know
e how this change would better the law
/ administration.