The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1921-01-03
SPEAKERSHIP
RACE May GO
INTO CAUCUS
G. 0. P. State Leaders Seek to
Straighten Out Tangle Be-
fore Solons Meet Wednes-
day Night.
LOOK FOR HARMONY
Especial Correspondence of the
Richmond PnIladium.)

/ Correspondence
Richmond PnIIadiumD
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. 3.-The
legislative speakership contest today
overshadowed all other legislative pre-
| liminaries. For the las. week an
effort has been on 20 get this contest
Strengthened out in council and thus
i prevent lively struggle at the house
caucus which will be held Wednesday
night.
,, 1t would not be safe to say positive
ly that no amicable agreement will be
reached but the indications today are
that the fight will be carried into the
Caucus. Those who are high in the
party believe the question will be
settled without an aftermath of bitter
| ness that might affect the efficiency of
the legislature. At least they strongly
hope this will be the case.
Among the legislators who drifted
into the city today there was some
| talk Of picking a dark horse for the
| speakership. The argument ives ad-
vanced that if the right man could be
| found all of the forces might be willing
to unite and thus avoid any squabble.
/ This talk did not get very far, how
ever, for several reasons, the main one
being that nobody seemed to have in
mind any dark horse on whom the
elements would be likely to unite
Beyond Dark Horse Stage.
Experienced party men also thought
that the speakership issue had ad-
vanced beyond the dark horse stage
| They pointed out that Governor-elect
, McCray had already come out openly
for John F. Mcclure, of Anderson, for
| the speakership and had spoken of
Mr.. Mcclure as a man who on account
of his ability and experience could
fill the difficult post acceptably
Mr. Mcclure was in the city yester-
day and there was much talk about
the Anderson delegation that will come
to his headquarters in Indianapolis to
work for him. This is a rather un-
usual move. In past sessions the
speakership unually has been settled
in rather quiet way among the party
leaders and the Governor-elect has had
big voice in the selection
1 In fact his word has usually been
law on the question. The fact that so
much work is being done openly for
Mr.. Mcclure after Governor-elect Nc
Cray has openly announced that he
favors the election of Mcclure is
fair indication say the anti-McClure
boosters that the supporters of Nc
Clure do not feel at all certain that
they can succeed.
Believe 1t A Trick.
They say that the effort to make it
appear that the big urge for Mcclure
comes from Anderson his home city
Is merely trick to cover up the real
support that Mcclure has which they
say is certain special interests.
But while there is much speculation
as to the outcome of the contest, the
most experienced politicians express
the opinion that Mcclure will be elect
ed. In spite of the manner in which
the Mcclure candidacy originated and
the way it dragged along for several
weeks with indications that he was out
of the running, it would be an unusual
procedure to start out a session of the
legislature by defeating for speaker a
man who was desired by the governor
In spite of predictions that this con-
gressional district or the other will be
against Mcclure, the experienced
political workers believe that the
power Governorelect McCray will
have to sign and veto bills and take
other important action that may be
pleasing or disappointing to one legis-
lator or another will be sufficient to
line up the necessary votes for Nc
Clure.
Tenth May Fight Him.
Those who are opposing Mcclure
offer various reasons why certain dis
tricts will be against him. They say
for example that the Tenth district
will be against Mcclure because Nc
Clure will be opposed by Represent
ative Harris of Lake county. Harris
it is said is considerably disgruntled
because Otto Fiield of Lake county
was put on the legislative visiting COM
mittee. He feels that this action cut
Him out of all of his chances to be
speaker.
/ 1t is said also that the political COM
plexion of the Sixth district makes it
appear that this district will go against
!. Mcclure and the same is said of the
Eleventh district. Other districts are
pointed tc in a similar manner and it
, might appear on paper that Mcclure
would be defeated. But as has been
stated the feeling of the old heads Is
that the governorelect can exert en-
oueh influence over the individual
!; legislators to get what he desires.
Resent Intrusion.
While most Of the talk against Mr..
Mcclure up to this time has been di-
recfed at the traction men and others
? who are working for his success it ap-
} pears certain today as the caucus ap-
J proaches that more and more will be
said about the effort of a governor
to dictate as to the speakership." :
: Already the argument is being heard
that the speakership is a question that
, belongs to the legislative department
of the state and should not be settled
by the executive department. This
argument was greatly weakened by
{ the statement made by others that
while it is unwise for one department
of the state to interfere with the work
of another, a precedent has been es-
tablished in connection with the speak
. ership. and governors for the last 25
have been able to say the supreme
, word as to who shall be the speaker.
, In reply to this argument those who
: were seeking the defeat of Mcclure
said that in his campaign for election
Mr.. McCray said repeatedly that he