South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-05
special to News-TImes.

Special to News-Times.
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 5.-First
steps toward the organization of the
seth general assembly, which con-
venes Thursday morning for a session.
of 61 days, will be taken this evening.
when the first caucus of democratic
state senators will be held. The
meeting will be either in the rooms
Of Lieut., Gov. O'Neill in the state
house or in the senate chamber.
Tonight's meeting VIII be the first
opportunity the senators and sena-
tOrs-elect have had to take up the
general line of policy to be pursued
throughout the session, although the
house members have discussed that
subject at a conference here. The
opinion expressed among the sena-
tors who were here yesterday was
that rigid economy will be practiced
throughout the session, which policy
has been agreed TO by the house
members.
The caucus tonight was called some
days aSo by Lieut.. Gov. O'Neill and
it is expected that the full demo-
cratic mem bership will attend.
Tomorrow night the house caucus
on the speakership and the selection
OF a principal clerk, assistant clerk
and a chief doorkeeper will take place
in the house chamber. At the same
hour the republican members of the
house will meet at the Marion club
and the republican senators will hold
their caucus in the rooms occupied by
the republican state committee in the
Hotel SEVERN.
Free May Seek Secretaryship.
The caucus of the democratic SEN
atOrs tonight, in addition 30 a discus
sion OF policy, will be to select a sec
retary. an assistant secretary and a
chic -JorkeepeT. Interest centers in
the selection Of a secretary. 1t is ex-
pected Wade II. Free of Anderson,
who was secretary IN the 1913 session.
viii be an important factor in the Sc
lection Of a secretary. Free was one
of several named in indictments found
by the Marion grand jury several
weeks ago. but later was cleared.
Frees friends declared yesterday that
he Will seek the secretaryShip again
as a means of further vindicating
himself. other candidates for the
place are Frank Houston of Salem
and c. L. Custer of Columbus. Michael
McCarty of Indianapolis and Ralph c.
Thomas Of Auburn are the candidates
for chief doorkeeper
j. A. Sweeney of Plymouth and II.
=. Skillman of indianapolis are can
didates for assistant secretary of the
senate.
Up 10 last night no opposition to
Arthur Hamrick OF GreenCastle for
principal clerk of the house had been
expressed. J.. B. Combs, former rep
resentative from Clinton county. and
Harry nj. Gardner. former represen-
tative from Cass county are candi-
dates for assistant clerk in the house.
Republican senators and represen-
tatives are looking for little or moth
ing IN the way of patronage. IL il
possible stenOgrapher or two will be
named Tor the republicans in the
house. but this is not looked for with
any degree Of assurance Ii is point-
ed out that the democrats. having a
majority ia both houses. will keep all
the patronage for themselves.
It il expected Sen. Fred Van NuyS Of
Anderson viii be elected floor leader
Of the senate. He was a mem Der of
the 1913 general assembly and took
an active part i'm the debate and the
discussion throughout the session. He
is "a lawyer and shrewd dehater. and
was numbered among the most popu-
lar senators OF the last session.
Franchise League Active.
The Stotsenburg constitutional
amendment. presented 10 the last leg
islature by former Sen. +. r. Stotes-
burg OF New Albany. and which will
come up for consideration at the
forthcoming session. received "A blow
yesterday from the Woman's Fran
chise league OF Indiana when circu-
lars against the adoption OF the pro-
posed amendments made their ap-
pearance. The circulars bear the
caption. printed in black letters. To
be defeated. the % amendments
pending in the legislature" and il is
followed by the reasons set forth by
the leaeue for its opposition 30 the
amendments
There should be a constitutional