The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1912-11-15
TINES REAU
AT THE STATE CAPITAL.


Indianapolis, Ind NOV. 15.-The an
nouncement that Governor Marshall.
samuel NJ Ralston. governor elect:
state Auditor w Fl. O'Brien. secretary
OF state Lew Dillingham; Attorney Gen
eral Thomas NJ. Honan. J. Fred France.
clerk of the supreme court and Chas
A. Greathouse state superintendent Of
public instruction. together with Thos
TagEart. have been chosen as the Of
fetal democratic steering committee"
for the coming session of the legisla-
ture. has caused something OF a stir
among democrats. They want 10 know
who appointed the steering committee
or who had any authority to make the
appointments.
One democrat who heard OF the an
nouncement said It looked to him like
somebody was trying to usurp the func-
tons OF the democratic members of the
legislature themselves. 1t has always
been the practice for tho majority
members of the legislature to meet in
caucus and select their own steering
committee. but this year it appears to
be all cut and dried for them. in ad-
vance.
According to the announced plan this
steering COMMITTEES VIII be the body
that Will decide what legislation shah
Re put through and what shall he Killed.
The legislature Will be expected 10 fol-
low the dictates OF this committee con
sisting OF outsiders, and do what the
committee tells 1t to do Some of the
political wise men are OF the opinion
that there may be some baking on this
program.
such an arrangement would mean
that the steering committee would be
the real legislative body. and that the
legislature itself would be merely the
laborers in the vineyard
Just when and BY whom tho steer
ing committee was appointed is no,
made known nor IS It known just why
Thomas Taggart should be made a
member or the committee. 1t is said
that the purpose of the steering com.
mittee viii be TO see that legislation
follows the line OF the democratic state
platform. and that the democrats re
deem their campaign pledges.
An interesting story has been told
here since the departure Of ". J. Bry-
an for Washington last Saturday night
He made a speech at the democratic
publication meeting in this city,
1t was stated a. first that Bryan was
going to Washington for the purpose
OF laying plans for bringing about tar
If legislation at an early date by the
democrats when they assume the reins
OF government. But the latest story IS
that he went there for the purpose Of
starting an agitation for a movement
TO have the vice president made a mem
Der OF the presidents cabinet. It is
said that Bryan favors this plan and
that Governor Marshall is not at al
averse to it. It would make the vice
president a member Of the presidents
offcial family and would place him a
the table when the cabinet holds Z
meeting 1t would also increase his
salary a few thousand dollars a year
and might give him a few Offices L
hand out to hungry democrats.
Just how Bryan expects to bring
about this new arrangement is no
known. but ii is said that it would have
to be done by means OF a bin passed b,
both of congress
There has been talk for years tina
the vice president ought to be mem
Der Of the cabinet At present the Of
nee of vice president is merely a politt
cal graveyard, for when a man is elect
ed vice president once he never get
any farther along except BY accident
as was the case with Roosevelt an
Arthur II the politicians want TO shelly