South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-23

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. FEB %
Suffrage. at least for the time being,
met sudden death today in the In
diana house. Rep. Lyday's motion to
adopt the majority reports on all bills
was carried AZ to 46. and among the
majority reports expected to be pre-
sented is one unfavorable to the right
of women to vote as provided in the
Rule suffrage bill. Rep. Niblack ac-
cused house members of being afraid
TO take a decided stand on the suff-
rage questions alone. The action also
effectively kills, it is believed, the
statewide prohibition and two and a
half cent fare bill.
Rep. Justus declared he was not
proud Of "throttling acts such as he
characterized this to be. The suffrage
measure which was passed by the
senate is still in the hands of the
house committee on judiciary A. AMI
the prospects are that it too will be
killed by a majority committee. It
may be, however, that the house will
adopt a favorable report on the Rule
bill and put the suffrage question up
to the senate again.
Caucus Not Binding.
In the most uprOariOus caucus of
house democrats that has character
lied this session Of the general assem-
bly, ii was clearly demonstrated last
night that the democratic majority in
the lower house will not be bound by
caucus action on any measures that
are not distinctly party platform bills
and that the question of woman suff-
rage and the Bell finance board bill.
for the city of Indianapolis, can not
be made party measures unless an un-
usual amount of some sOftening in
fluence descends on democratic ranks
today Another caucus Monday night
resulted in a near-riOt and on several
different occasions six or seven house
members started towards the doors
bent on boiling the caucus. because
they believed they were about to be
subjected to a binding vote, either on
woman suffrage or the Bell finance
board bill
Fear that the Bell finance bill
would not pass kept democratic lead
ers awake and working far into the
night Monday. when the results of the
caucus became known, as it became
plainly apparent that the Bell meas
ure, with the majority Of the house
republicans stand pat against the
measure, is as dead as the prOverbial
"dOornaiL" The same fear perVaded
the ranks of perhaps the strongest
array of brewery lobbyists that has
ever assailed an Indiana legislature
though the fear was because Of a diff
ferent situation. 1t was the woman
suffrage question. 1t was clearly
demonstrated in the house caucus that
a great many democrats are in favor
of the immediate passage Of the Mas
ton senate bill, which provides. in ef-
feet, the Illinois plan of woman suf-
frage The brewery lobby is positive
that at least 80 Of the house republi-
cans will stand for the passage of this
bill Add to these One-half Of the
democratic majority in the house and
larly easy sailing TO passage in the
house.
No Binding Action.
But at the caucus Monday night
there was no binding caucus action
taken for the simple reason that the
caucus broke up in a near-riot with
everybody "cussing" his brother on
the two prime questions before the
caucus-wOman suffrage and the
finance bill.
The situation grew so tense on the
woman suffrage proposition that a
INST fight at times seemed imminent.
on this question the argument be-
tween John r. Jones. caucus chair
man. and Rep. Charles Hagerty Of
South Bend. grew so heated that
Jones finally refused to recognize
Hagerty when the latter desired to
express his views. Jones remarked.
il is said that Hagerty's actions in
the matter had been too small' TO
permit OF notice from the chair.
The caucus finally broke up. after
transacting some slight house bus
mess. with absolutely no binding
agreement on either Of the subjects
mentioned and with no attempt to
take a vote on either Speaker Bed
1g-.s.
said no word OF it would be given out
and refused 10 saw when the bills in