South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-28
EASY RESTS HEAD
Of c. D. P. SOLGNS
Now That Danger of Special
Session Is Passed They
Can Wait Till Winter.
By Walter GreenOugh.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, April 81
Vow that the danger OF a special
session Of the legislature is the same
as passed and the atmosphere has
been cleared 20 that extent. the
heads OF a good many politicians
that rested uneasy for a time now
repose peacefully and sweetiy on
their pillows throughout the night.
There was a time. only few short
weeks ago, when every highland
in fact every day. as well-was
nightmare for these same politi-
clans. all Of whom are OF the re-
publican gender. They could see
in their dreams the smashing Of the
fences and Of their hopes by the
calling OF a special session. They
could hear the crashing Of their
brightest hopes and ambitions If
any OF them did not recognize the
noise as being the crash OF mbi-
tons and the wrecking Of hopes
they might have obtained first hand
expert information on the subject
from James Eli Watson, Junior sea-
atOr from Indiana. Watson was he
republican nominee for governor in
1908 but Gov. Hanly called a spe-
cial session Of the legislature to
pass the county option law, and
Watson fell under the juggernaut
and was hattened out completely.
Therefore. If anyone has reason to
know what a special session means
lit is Uncle James Eli"
But the clouds have rolled away.
and the menace of a special SEES
sion has all but disappeared. If
Gov. Goodrich calls a special ses-
sion now it will be a surprise party
for the other republican politicians.
who are tickling themselves and
laughing at the smooth, clever man
ner in which they headed off the
governors pet idea and plan. Those
who are looking for nominations.
offices. jobs. appointments and the
like did not want the governor to
act.
Next Session Hot One.
It all means that the next regular
session Of the general assembly.
which will convene next January.
will be a hot one, with a lot of
things to dispose Of All Of the
subjects that were on the program
for the special session will be left
over for the regular session. where
the members and factions may
fight and scrap in their usual, old
fashioned way. The election will
be over at that time, and everything
political will be out Of the way. No
matter what either party does in
the legislature, it cannot then affect
the election. The politicians agree
that this will help some.
Hope of G.. o. II.
The republicans are hoping THAI
they may succeed at the November
election in electing a majority of
the members of the senate, thus
giving them control OF that branch.
They hope, also to elect a majority
Of the members of the house Then.
they say. they can do as they please
whether the democrats like it or
not They can shape legislation TO
suit the popular fancy and take to
themselves all of the credi. for
whatever is done. And. they figure.
the 1919 regular session will be so
far in advance Of the 1920 election
that any offensive legislation that
they might enact at that time would
have lost its sting before the cleo
ton day.
They say they could ratify the
prohibition amendment TO the fed
eral constitution at the regular
election. and get by with il. where
as at the special election il might
cause trouble.
If they were to pass a bill at a
special session, repeating the law
requiring the teaching Of German in
the schools it might cause a lot Of
trouble for the republicans at the
November election. for il is quite
well known that the republicans
will get practically all Of the Ger
man vote this year. But after the
next fall election as such a
bill could be passed at a regular
| session and the Germans would
have to like it, for they would have
no opportunity to soak the republi-
cans before the 1920 election.
just Put IL on.
II the legislature were to pass a
i hAAA at q NHttldA ctS~4On lot the re-
moval Of the Indiana reformatory
from Jacksonville to some other
county in the state. the republicans
would make trouble for themselves
I at the election next November. for
: every county that failed TO land the
| prize would be sore. Therefore. il
Will be good politics for them TO put
, II off until the next regular session.
And so 1t goes. all the way down
| the line OF proposed legislation The
politicians say that anything that
/ can be avoided and sidestepped now
should be avoided and sidestepped
while the sidestepping is good
That's why there IS not going TO be
a special session Of the Indiana gen.
/ eral assembly.
Ii was said a short time ago that