South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-27
Jones Act is Not Favored and
Van NuyS Measure Which
Retains State Convention is
Likely to be Passed.
n N1lANA's SO TN
! GENERAL ASSEMBLY
FROM THE NEWS-TIMES
| INDIANAPOLIS BUREAU

INDIANAPOLIS. Feb. 27-Concen-
sus Of opinion today among those who
have been watching the legislatures
work. was that woman's suffrage in
Indiana was dead issue, at least
Until 1917. WOmens organizations.
encouraged by the passage OF the
Maston limited suffrage bill in the
senate and the favorable report made
by the house committee considering
the Rule bill. which is practically the
same Us the MastOn measure. are con
tinuing their efforts 10 bring about
suffrage law. Although it is believed
TO lie settled that the suffrage meus-
Ures are 10 be killed. there is cOnsid-
cradle doubt as 10 the method 10 be
employed The senate made suffrage
caucus measure and rushed the Mas
ton bill through under suspension
of the rules. 1t was said this was
done because word had been received
that the house intended 20 pass the
Rule bill and put upon the senate the
responsibility Of killing the measure
In the house. ii the unanimous rec
OmmendatiOn of the committee which
! reported the Rule bill faVorably is
I concurred in. both houses will be on
record as favoTing suffrage. Now the
1 suffrage question can be settled
without giving the women the right
TO vote. only by "A vote Of a majority
/ Of the whole house against the Mas
/ ton or Rule bills. or 10y an unfavOr-
able committee report on the MastOn
bill. since the house concGrs in all
majority committee reports recon-
mending the killing OF bills.
Gov. Ralston today was presented
with a petition asking that the ques-
ton OF holding "A constitutional con
VcntiOn be submitted TO a vote of the
people Of the state. The petition was
presented by Ross T. Lockridge OF
Fort Wayne, secretary of the Citizens
league OF Indiana, Charles FOX, pres
ident Of the Indiana Federation OF
Labor; DR.. Amelia r. Keller Of the
lanchlse league Of Indiana, Charles
DOney Of the indianapolis Real Estate
board, and l.. =. Shumaker Of the In
diana Anti-Saloon league.
Try to Stave on Primary.
That there will be an effort on
the part Of the machine democrats To
stave off action on the Jones state
wide direct primary bill and To pass "A
bill introduced in the senate which is
a direct primary bill in name only,
now seems certain. There does not
seem TO be the slightest disposition
on the part OF the leaders OF the sen
ate to permit the Jones bill, which has
passed the house and which is now ina
the hands of the senate elections com
mittee, of which Sen. Van Auken is
chairman. 10 come TO q vote in the
senate. The plan is TO sidetTack the
Jones bill and pass the NanNuys bill
which retains the state convention.
The house OF Representatives late
Friday afternoon passed the Harman
Indianapolis flood prevention bill and
in line with the democratic senate
program, the senate Friday afternoon
passed the Fort Wayne and Peru flood
prevention bills. These bills are meant
TO apply only 10 the immediate dis
| fr, CIT sit
uated.
Ii was announced in the senate that
the regular application bill would be
a special order of business for Monday
Rep. Feick explained that the oin
tiOn bill for Tuesday.
Receives Women.
Gov Ralston at his office FriGay
afternoon received 100 women who
are pushing the woman suffrage cause
and said they had the same right To
an interview with him as the men
who were working on other bills. He
said he understood their mission and
thought the suffrage blll should re-
Ceive the same consideration as any
other bill presented. He said
If / were a legislator ] would not
sidestep the question. but would vote
my sentiments, which are FOR suf-
frage."
The house late Friday took up. on a
special order OF business, the Felck
Cancellation and arbitration bill The
biz was passed by "a vote Of 50 te --
Rep. Feick explained that the uiii
was aimed 10 solve such difncuities
as those which arose iu l9l IN The
Indianapolis street car strike and
which resulted in the loss of several
lives. the destruction of property and
the final calling out OF the Indiana
national guard. He said the bin pro
vided that the governor should call
/ the arbitration board into action onlb
when needed