The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-12-27
M|LTENBERGER
IN LEAD FOR
SPEAKERSHIP
Muncie Man Seems to Have
Edge - Republican Chief
tains Believe Race Will End
Without Animosities.
EXPECT SMOOTH WORK
!. ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF
THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Dec. 27.-Re- !
publican chieftains who have made a |
survey of the legislative situation ex-
press the belief that the assembly will !
convene next week, organize and get
down to business the following week
without creating enmities that will |
have any serious effect on the func-
tioning of the body. The race for the
speakership of the house is most
active but the character of the support
behind the leading candidates gives
ground for the hope that the contest
will be settled without animositieS OF
a dangerous kind.
The three leading candidates in this
race are j. d. Miltenberser. of Mum
Gle: Clinton H. Givan, of indianapolis,
and John F. Mcclure, of Anderson. 1t
is no misstatement of facts to say that
as conditions are now Mr.. Miltenberger
is in the lead ,and that if things go
along as they are he will be the speak
er of the next house. OF course there
may be decisive developments in ten
days and the prophecy as to Milten-
bergers election is made only on the
bal IS Of conditions as they exist now.
" Leadership Shifts.
At the beginning of the speakership
contest a few weeks ago it appeared
that Miltenberger was in the lead.
Then the candidacy of Mr.. Mcclure
was announced and for a short time
the talk was all in favor of Mcclure.
At that time Glenn Harris of Lake
county, also was a candidate and
here were two or three Marion county
possibilities, among them Mr.. Givan
and Henry Abrams. of Indianapolis.
The appointment of Otto Fifeld, of
Lake county. as member of the leais-
lative visiting committee apparently
destroyed Harris's chances and the
Marion county delegation held a meet
ing.
No word has been spoken by any
body against Givan's record in the
legislature and he is understood to
have the loyal support of his own
county The legislative record of Mil
tenberger also stands without attack.
Mi'tenberger also seems to have been
very successful in lining up the sup
port Of those members who have seen
previous service in the house and near
w so per cent of the membership OF
the house falls into this class 1t is
said also that some of those who might
he counted on to support Mcclure to
the finish if he remained in the race.
nav swing TO MlilPnDeTSe1 III tdSC
Mcclure entirely fades as possibility.
They will do this provided Miltenber-
ger at the time of the caucuses next
week still appears 70 be the best bet
Their idea will be to get on a winner
Blow to Mcclure.
The greatest blow against the Nc
Clure candidacy was the word that
went out that he was being supported
by the utility corporations, particu-
larly the traction interests. Mr.. Nc
Clure lives in Anderson which is a
traction city. and nobody had ever
thought of his being in the race until
meeting was held at Anderson and
his candidacy was announced. One of
the men who signed the original petit
zion for the Mcclure candidacy, is
prominent in the traction world.
A few weeks later Legislative meet
ing was held in indianapolis, and it
was evident at that time that the Nc
Clure candidacy did not ''go over"
with the legislators. The talk of his
corporation support had spread all
over the state and the legislators came
to indianapolis with the dope" on the
question. 1t was significant that i'm
mediateIy after this Legislative meet
ing some rather powerful political in
terests that has looked with favor on
Mcclure switched away from him.
This legislative meeting was decided
ly to the advantage of Miltenberger
who had a chance to mingle with the
men with whom he had previously
served. To a lesser extent it was to
thee benefit of Givan. No doubt Mr..
Mcclure. if he serves Sin the ranks
in the house will get that degree of
esteem to which man long in public
life is entitled. but there is serious
question as to whether he will be
placed at the head of any committee
that will have important corporation
. matters to consider
McCray Understands.
1t is said that Governor-clect Nc
Cray understands that either Mr. Gil
van or Mr.. Miltenberger if elected
speaker, will cooperate with him in
legislative matters. 1t is said that
Mcclure, if he should be elected
speaker. would do the same thing
On the senate side the contest for
tho presidency pro tenn when the eau
Gus is held next week, promises to be
keen. with Senator Oscar Rats of
PaOli and Senator James Nejdl of
Lake county. as the principals. SEN
ator Nojdl. when he was in Indiana D.
oils short time ago, said he had four
more than enough votes to elect him,
but the supporters of Rats say they
are not worried.
Republican leaders realize that this
legislature must legislate for the en-
tire state. With large Republican
majority in each house. there no
doubt will be a big demand for local
and special legislation. Already JOS
eph Cravens, the leader of the Dem
ocratic side in the assembly. has
warned against special legislation.
Legislative leaoers see how disastrous
it might be to have in positions of
power men who might seek to play
politics. The fact that Senator Rats
was appointed by Governor-elect Nc
Cray as a member of committee
to make study of the budget system