South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-14
REVIVAL OF FIGHT
GAME Is POSSIBLE
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still hangs in the ofiing-a real
menace 10 the tranquility of the demo-
cratic maJorities in both houses.
Thomas Taggart has openly advocated
a referendum Of the entire question to
the people OF the state at the 1916
election. Gov. RalstOn is known TO
be in sympathy with any movement
which viii avoid the passage Of a
straight out primary law, which would
do away with the state convention sys-
TEN. Meanwhile many leaders, par
ticularly outside the legislature, are
crying for the democratic party TO
sustain its platform pledge, made be-
fore the members OF this legislature
were elected.
Many OF these contend that the
party faced the same situation when il
voted in legislature assembled to re-
peal the county local option liquor
law. Then there were hundreds OF in
surgent democrats, protesting against
carrying out the platform plank, but
they finally were compelled 10 lend
their influence 10 passing the Proctor
law AM today they are using the
same argument concerning the pri-
mary law-"they returned us TO power
after the county option repeal. we can
do no more than the same thing now,
stand by the platform
Republicans Indifferent.
Regardless of this feeling 1t now is
extremely doubtful whether anything
short of a political upheaval could
force the passage Of a primary law.
II is reported that some republicans
in the house are Indifferent on the
subject and If this be true there will
be little hesitation among the house
leaders in putting Jones K. Jones, au-
thor Of the statewide primary law, in
the middle of the legislative road for
the old fashioned experience Of being
rolled.
There probably will be half dozen
of the proposed amendments to the
constitution passed by this assembly.
Twenty-Five, drawn up and introduced
in 1913 by Evan B. StOtsenburg of
New Albany are being considered. but
there are many OF the amendments
that do not suit this legislature at all.
AS to woman suffrage there now eX-
lists somewhat of a question as TO What
the senate might do with the proposed
bill that has been in hiding in the
hands of administration leaders for
some days. There would be no such
question in the house, where the Ques-
tiOn of woman suffrage has been fig
uratively spanked out of court"
twice already this session.
Prohibition Bill Doomed.
The Wright statewide prohibition
bill will not get far, either, house
democrats having agreed in secret
caucus Thursday night that hereafter
they were to stand together as a man
on such measures as these and the
votes Friday showing conclusively
that the caucus decision had great
deal of effect.
The Indianapolis board of finance
bill, backed by the Bell machine in
this city. now is before the house and
a public hearing set on il for tomor-
row night. Thomas Taggart and the
governor are striving hard for it's
passage to help out their friend, Joe
Bell. But it is not believed it Will
pass. House democrats take the at
titude that Bells organization was re-
pudiated by the people here at the
last election, the republicans winning
the county, and they do not feel that
they can consistently vote to give Bell
practically unlimited power in this
city, under such circumstances.
The Myers bill providing for pen
sioning of city firemen was allowed to
go to second reading in the house on
Saturday.
In the senate by a vote of 20 to 3
the Ballou bill placing restrictions on
the office of the fish and game COM
missioner that would practically re-
lieve him of any authority, was killed.
The bill caused a word war, the fight
against the measure being led by Sen.
Clarke.
The senate bill defining press asso-
Citations and compelling the sale of
news reports to all newspapers that
desire them was reported favorably
TODAY.