Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-10-16
GOVERNOR HARDING IN DOUBT
As TO NEED FOR LEoIs.
LATivE MEETING.
WOULD MAKE POLITICAL
CAPITAL FOR DEMOCRATS
Also Might open a Fow sores In Re-
publican Party and Give Governor's
Enerniss Chance to Renew Attacks
Democratic Members Of Legislature
Favor Extra Session.

Des Moines. Oct. l6.-There may be
no code revision session OF the low"
legislature this winter,
II Governor Harding calls an extra
session, Il will be In spite OF consider
able strong republican pressure.
The governor has not expressed him
self definitely in the matter. There
are reports In unusually well-informed
quarters that he has privately prom
ised not to summon the legislators.
His public attitude has been that the
session will be called as soon as the
code commission finishes It's work. The
commission will be ready very soon.
Democrats For II.
II Is known that the governor has
been advised against an extra session
by some counsellors who are innuen-
tial. Democratic leaders fear he has
been Influenced by them. II 4 repub-
lican effort to avoid the session seems
likely to succeed. there is certain to be
a little private democratic war to force
the session to be called. II IL a matter
of campaign strategy.
Three considerations, II is said, make
a legislative session on the eve OF the
coming state primary inadvisable.
from a republican standpoint:
THE certainty that. II Il Ia
convened. the extra session must
consider and make a record upon
primary suffrage.
2-There' Is danger that issues
will be created. upon which indi-
vidual legislators can be attacked.
3-The session Is likely to re-
open lot OF old sores. which the
republicans are not anxious to re
open during a campaign.
Primary suffrage is a touchy issue.
It would be decidedly impolitic, the
leaders realize. for a republican legis-
lature to turn down the women's bill.
The women OF Iowa probably will be
voting in 1921. They would remem-
Der. The republican party in Iowa
would he branded, in some degree. as
suffrage.
On the Other Hand.
On the other hand primary suffrage
for women would not be thoroughly
popular with those who now exercise
tho franchise. The republicans would
gain little and lose more In the present
campaign by Immediate favorable ac-
ton. They would gain little and lose
much ultimately by immediate mega
tive action. The best thing would be
no action at all. But some action will
be forced if-ythe assembly convenes.
Therefore, the stratesiets cry, let's not
have any session. In that case the re-
rublicans can't be expected to do any
thing.
It Is almost a political axiom that a
legislator can do about as no pleases
at tho regular session. and get away
whit, because II Is more than a year
between the session and the primary,
and people have time to forget. It Is
different, however, when the legisla-
ture meets now and the people vote next
month. Il 10 safe 20 assume that there
70 not q candidate for reelection to
the assembly who has any sore Of a
tight on his hands. who would not like
to see Mr.. Harding forget his extra
session plan.
What One Friend sayss
IT were tho governor would con-
slider that was entitled to little civi-
liked quiet during my last winter in the
capitol. He has done nothing but night
since ne became governor. I wouldn't
let those fellows come back here this
winter. and Immediately start hunting
for something new to Jump on me
about I'd pass tho buck on code re-
vision TO the next administration. It's
not SO urgent that It can't wait a year."