South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-01-14
6. 0. P. FRAMES
ONE DAY SESSION
Have Il All Planned to Ratify
Woman Suffrage
Then Adjourn.
Special 70 The News Times

tuf lUhlhNh republican committee IS
responsible for the scheme 20 gag
the legislature az a one-day session
FOR the ratification OF the suffrage
amendment and the Indiana repub-
iican committee has no intention OF
bringing about q subsequent spec
TAI session of the Legislature for the
transaction OF other business unless
the appellate court ruling on the tax
law Is such as 70 compel such ac-
ton.
The proof Of this statement is con-
tanned in second. and secret
letter which has been sent by the
committee 20 members Of the legis-
lature who have not yet pledged
themselves 90 One-day session OF
the general assembly. This letter
which was framed by Chairman
Wasmuth In response TO a demand
from officers of the Franchise
league that he make plain 10 legis-
iators that the one-day session did
not originate In their council Is an
open admission. rot only that tho
committee framed the one dag ses-
sion plan, but that the republican
party - in such condition today
that IL cannot attempt 20 change eX-
isting legislation and should only
hold itself in readiness 20 change
existing legislation "If the decision
Of the courts requires it,"
In other words. il IS the express
90 intention OF the republican or
ganizatiOn in this state 10 dispose
OF the women's suffrage pressure at
"a special one-day session of the leg
islature and then fail to call another
session unless the appellate court 50
lnterprets the tax law as 10 make
such "A step necessary 10 the success
of the party next fell.
Guard Copies OF Letter.
I'm the light of this letter. copies
of which are being zealously guard
ed from the public press IL is very
evident that all promises now being
made OF a second special session
of the legislature are bunk designed
go bring about the first special ses-
sion OF conditions favorable TO the
republican party.
Wasmuth's secret letter to legis-
Shortemier the acting secretary Of
the committee gathered members
OF the Franchise league together and
took them 10 the state 20 hear Gov.
GoOdrichs conditions for calling a
special session. the republican state
committee had framed the whole
nefariOus scheme. The letter says:
we want 90 assure YOU that this
question was given careful attention
and much thought by the state
committee and We recommend this
special session to in this way dis
pose OF the question of ratification
of the suffrage amendment"
There was no meeting OF the state
committee at which careful atten-
tion" could have been given 10 this
one-dsy special session plan between
the time the governor proposed ii to
members OF the Franchise league
and Jan. s. the date of this letter.
Therefore. the careful attention"
given TO the plan by the state com
mittee must have been given TO il
prior 10 the time Mr. ShOrtemier
staged his visit with Helen Ben
bridge OF the Franchise league and
Miss Betsy Edwards and Mrs
Charles A. Butler. both paid en-
ployes OF the republican organiza-
tion. 20 the office OF Gov. Goodrich.
Goodrich Unfurls Plan.
Al this meeting Goodrich unfurled
the plan TO gag the legislature. Helen
Benbridge declares she never heard
az II prior 20 that meeting She says
she took pains To express to the rep
resertatives Of the republican press
in indianapolis the fact that the
proposal was made by Gov Good
rich TO the members of the Fran
chise league and not by the women
60 Gov. Goodrich.
But the state committee. loath TO
accept responsibility for the scheme.
and the governor. anxious TO make
DO appear as a movement from the
women Of the state. are now at
tempting to place the credit or dis
credit OF having originated the UNI
constitutional plan Of limiting the
legislative session on some ones else
shoulders than its originstors. The
letter Mr. Wasmuth caused TO be
sent out also says
The Woman's Franchise League
% Indiana Is writing YOU requesting
you 80 endorse the plan for a one
day session of the legislature to
ratify the federal suffrage amend
ment This plan has been approved
bv the governor as the most salts
factory under he existing situation.
The existing situation TO which
Mr.. Wasmuth refers, and which
shows beyond doubt the bad faith
that attaches 10 promises now beinE
made Of a second special session
are described I'm the body OF this
secret letter which SAYS
We seem no nearer ready today
10 take up any other questions OF
importance that might be consider
90 by a special session. To is very
apparent that we should not at
tempt 20 change laws az this time.
and indeed that We should hold our
selves in readiness Co maSe changes
10 the decision OF the courts re-
quires it,"
little Harmony
u other words. there is So little
o. the harmony FOR which VIII Hays
il noted in the ranks OF the repub-
ucan party today that BE- Is not ready
IN affauluf IN change az Tho ahuavf-