South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-01
Passage of This Law Takes
Biggest Issue Out of Way of
Present Session - Economy
Program Followed.
n EDIANA'S SO TR
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
FROM THE NEWS TIMES
u INDIANAPOLIS BUREAU

INDIANAPOLIS. Feb. 1.-The leg
islative floors of the 6sth general as
sembly this week are to be the battle
ground for a struggle between ele-
ments represented by the Ralston
! forces of tho democratic party ana
opponents of that part of the organi-
zation. most OF which will hal! from
outside Marion county. The fight has
| been drawing its lines tighter each
day and the forces have been
strengthening themselves as best they
might for the final test of strength
/ The dramatic resignation OF Sen.
Stephen b. Fleming probably Will
| have much TO do with bringing the
situation to a focus.
The bills that are known as the Bell
4 city administration bills will be the
! bone OF contention. They may pass
the senate but in the house the real
| fight viii be staged. Here il is almost
certain that several Of the bills will
| be defeated or so il seems now. There
! are 3S republicans and a bull mooser
there, and they viii vote against
! these measures to a man if is said
now. Thus it viii need only 13 or 4
democrats 10 insure the defeat Of the
bills
This quota from the democracy
! ought 10 be easily available, oppcn-
ents OF the bills believe. Ii is definite
! ly understood that Mason J. Niblack
of Nincennes. who was defeated in
the race for speaker Of the house
through the efforts OF the Ralston-
Taggart element of the party, which
4 selected Charles H Bedwell. viii lead
the fight against the bills on the
democratic side Niblack is perhaps
the most picturesque and sturdy fight
er in either house and his long expert
!
well for this particular fight, because
ii is declared he will have a majority
/ l-if even small one-with him. He.
has been unfortunate so far in this :
session because he usually has found
| himself leading a small group OF
| 'anti' democrats, who we're sand
| wiched between the republicans and
the democrats. But with the aid OF
the republican side Of the house il
| would appear that Niblack Will wiz
his fight against these bills
One reason Niblack will oppose the
measures. IT is said, is because OF the
way he was "ditched" by the house
ma aiority. Now he Will get even" by
retaliating on the Bell bills.
/ Bell After Revenge.
The bills include. among others. one
1 for the creation Of a finance board I'm
the city of Indianapolis, which would
supplant the council which has op-
|
self is out for revenge on certain
party leaders. The element in the
| democratic council which has op-
posed him, represents the element OF
! the party he would like TO have the
legislature whip into line.
One Of the big arguments that viii
| be used on both sides of the legis-
lative chambers by the opponents Of
the bill is that Bell whose county or
ganization here was defeated so bad
~ this fall now is attempting 10 get
| this gislature-democratic in spite
Of Bell and Marion cOunty-tO clean
iup his Marion county situation to
such an extent that he viii again have
control OF the party here. And thus
the fight goes on. The break between
/ Fleming and RalStOn typihed. in
! way. the differences of opinion that
exist in the legislature as a whole. or
at least in the democratic part of the
| legislature. That break will be re-
l fiected throughout the party in the
/ state in the next two years. as viii the
outcome OF the present legislative sit
uation with regard 90 the Bell bills.
! And so there has been some at-.
tempt on the part OF democratic lead.
| ers here 10 insist that Bell and his
! associates drop their campaign fOT
cratic clique in Marion county there
by cementing the party in this coun-
tv and taking away the necessity fol
any sore spots following the impend-
ing fight on the Bell administration
measures.
i The republicans are secretly laugh
ing up their sleeves about the coming
situation. believing they see in IL q
Y splitting OF democratic ways that 81
will mean the entire disruption OF the
party. Bell is bent on ruling or ruin
ing. and IL is declared ne has brought
John Branaman. democratic floor
leader Of the house. over into his
i camp also. This will make the battle
between Branaman and Niblack the
more spectacular this week. For t.
two have usually taken OppOsins
viewpoints this session.
sign Anti-LObby Law.
IL was expected Gov RalstOn would
sign the anfilobby bin early this
week. probably Monday liz viii ther
go into effect immediately. There ar
many here cOndemning RalstOn for
peremtorily pushing this measure