South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-11-20
Liquor Question Enters
Arena As Paramount
Issue in Hoosier State


lature 10 insure the enactment Of a
statutory statewide prohibition law.
At the same time the representa-
tives OF the liquor interests are Civ
ing out actual figures as 20 how
they will control at least the senate
OF the next legislature. The latter
say they are certain that at least
% state senator's. Of the total OF so.
will sit tight" IL anything like state
wide prohibition is thrown into the
legislative arena.
Leaders here are estimating-and
perhaps cOrrectly-that il a statu-
tory enactment OF statewide prohibi-
ton is advocated in this legislature,
practically the entire democratic
personnel of that legislature will
support such a bill, if for no other
reason than 20 pass the buck" to
the republicans.
Enough republicans. who have
been elected 10 the legislature. will
be in favor OF statewide prohibi-
ton 10 insure the passage of such
an enactment. according TO those
leaders The position OF the gov
ernOr and the coming here OF Will
lam Jennings Bryan, bent on the
prohibition moveme nt. seems to sup
port the contentious of this partic-
ular group Of dry democrats.
Bryan met group Of these dem
Ocrats in conference today. The
meeting had been arranged for the
purpose of furthering the cause OF
prohibition and undoubtedly Mr.
Bryan sees rosy dreams Of 1920
ahead. That he is lending his in
fiuence-whatever it may be-to the
state movement towards the oblit-
Grafton of the saloon is only another
nail in the supporting structure for
those here, who are declaring the
1917 legislature will be the final bat
tlegrOund for years 10 come be-
tween the opponents of liquor and
it's friends
The attitude of the republicans on
the subject is. officially, unknown.
What attitude James p. Goodrich, the
newly elected governor, will take is
problematical There are those
here. who know Goodrich well. VINO
say that ne will seek 10 avoid the
injection of the LIQUOR problem in
TO this legislature. in order that he
may be assured "A number of reforms
he has promised will be carried out
without the danger to them that
the trading propensities" of LIQUOR
fight would bring. others declare
Goodrich may surprise everyone by
coming out openly 10 champion
some form of amendment Of the
present liquor laws. The entire sit
uatiOn at present is jumbled badly
But there can be no denying the
fact now that liquor will hold the
witness seat in the 1917 legislature.
The question of woman suffrage.
Of course, will be linked directly with
this fight. Every party in the field
Is pledged in Indiana. in some form
or other, to the principle Of woman
suffrage.
From this long range the follow
ing prophesies as 20 what the 1917
legislature will do with each of these
! three great questions may or may
not hit the mark but they are
the best guesses of the thinkers here
at this time
ca The question OF calling a con-
stitutional convention will be bit
terly fought and probably a resom-
J ton will be adopted providing for
the calling of such a convention.
probably next summer. If this does
not happen, a law undoubtedly will
! be enacted. seeking again TO put
the question of calling such con-
ventiOn. directly up TO the voters
I Of the state at the next election.
I The first OF these results now is the
more probable.
(b) In all probability, as polite
I ians see the light now. the voters
/ Of the state Will have an opportun-
I ity 10 vote on the question of adopt
| ing woman suffrage unless the en-
! actment on the constitutional con-
VentiOn proposal covers the woman
] suffrage ground also
Co Unless the liquor interests Of
the state are too strong. il now
! seems probable that at least an en-
/ actment Will be passed putting the
\ question Of tate-wide prohibition
/ directly up TO the voters of the state.
I In case such an enactment were
/ put across under present condi-
! lions at least prohibition probably
would carry the state, as il did in
I MICHIGAN at the recent election The