The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-01-03

have been the controlling factor In
lining up influential senate strength
for Miss Smith.
Swain who is now a candidate for
secretary of the senate. is in Indian
apolis early for the legislative confer
ences. Those who are friendly to his
candidacy say that he has received
assurances from many legislators that
they will support him. SWANS friends
are telling OF the hard work that he
did for the Republican state commit
tee in the last campaign.
In connection with the candidacy OF
Miss Smith it was said in some quar-
tiers that the only thing that could de-
feat her would be the candidacy Of
some other woman. Miss Smith has
some rather important political back
ing in Indianapolis.
Other Candidates.
Others mentioned for secretary In
the contest against Swain are M. e.
Watkins, Of Roachdale and Julian Ho-
gate. Of Danviile. The candidacy of
Hogate has not been announced how
ever and up to this time is only talk.
The word was in circulation today
that the same influences that are try
Ing to bring about the election OF
Representative Mcclure as speaker
are also trying to elect Senator Nejdl
of Lake county, as president protein
of the senate. Those who were putting
out this line of gossip said that it did
not apply directly to Governor-elect
McCray but that the statement was
made In reference to others who were
pushing Mcclure and who were instru-
mental in obtaining the support of the
Governor-elect in the Mcclure fight.
This kind of gossip while guarded
was insufficient to lead to reports of
other workers that McCray does not
desire the election of Senator Oscar
Rats OF Paoli as president pro tenn.
But this representation of the attitude
of McCray does not line up with his
action recently in appointing Rats as
member of an important committee
to visit other states for study of the
budget system.
There was some talk to the effect
that friends of Rats were getting
ready to take advantage Of the situa-
ton If it appears nearer the middle
of the week that opposition to the
Governor-elect in the organization of
the legislature is the popular thing.
Neidl is said to have been very active
and the understanding is that ne has
obtained pledges of support from a
great many legislators.
Start Will Be Delayed.
While great many of the legisla-
tive leaders particularly those in the
senate are in favor of starting bust
ness at once, it is hardly probable
that very much legislative work will
be done before next week. The first
session will be held Thursday morning
but not until Monday will the Good
rich administration come to an end
The business of making up the leg
islative committees this year will also
be- a considerable task on account of
the larger Republican majorities and
the number of Republicans who must
be taken care of with committee ap-
pointments.
Its probable that Lieutenant-Gover
nor Branch has pretty we'll in mind
how he will dispose of the committee
question in the senate but it is hardly
likely that any of the speakership can
didates has given thought to the make
up of his committees in case he is
successful.
The senate finance committee and
the house ways and means committee
which always rank high in importance
take an even higher place this session
because one of the biggest problems
Of the senate will be to raise money
sufficient to run the state adequately
and at the same time not push the
taxes too high.
1t is said that the tax question is
tNe main one that is interesting the
corporations this year and as strange
as it may seem the common taxpayer
and the corporations will find common
ground in their desire to head off high
taxes. The committees on elections
this year also will be important large
ly because the primarKmelection law
is coming up for consideration. Gov
ernor-elect McCray already has spok-
en- in favor Of the repeal of the state