South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-29
SPEAKERSHIP RACE
} IN INDIANA QUIET
With Opening Of Legislature
Approaching, Likely Choice
l. Uncertain.

INDIANAPOLIS. Dec. 2s-What
as described as one OF the quietest
speakership contests ln recent years
has faEed political observers as
serJ % SHOW any apparent trend
toward any OF the contestants a
week IN advance OF the opening OF
the Seventy-rhird session Of the In
diana general assembly. Eight
avOwed candidates are IN the field,
5u Of this group an opportunity 20
obtain the place is conceded % only
1--WE.
Many Legislators IN discussing the
probable spcakership choice OF the
Republican members OF the house,
who wiI caucus next Wednesday
evening-the evening before the ses-
sion cOnveues-assert that L. A
PltteuEer. OF Selma. Raymond C..
Morgan 81 Krlghts-owu. William
r. Phillips, Of GIeuwood; J. Glenn
Harris. OF Gary. and Asa j Smith.
OF Indianapolis. are the leading
couteuders, and that only an unex-
pected compromise would make
James 7. Day OF East Chicago; Os-
car A. Ahlgren. Of Whiting. and
Luke W Duney. OF Indianapolis,
:. possibilities for the speakershlp.
Have Slight Lead
Most OF the legislators assert that
Mr.. Ptteuger and Mr.. Morgan APP
parenuy have a slight lead over
their opponents although neither
has progressed % "a place where he
can claim his election with any de-
gree OF certainty Thas element. the
legislators say, gives the other con-
tenders hope that they may be
eventually the choice Of the Repub-
Lean caucus
Mr.. Pittinser is said to be favor
ed 10y mauy " the stare administra-
ton heads. although Governor Nc
Cray. as far as can be learned, has
kept aloof from the fight and has
expressed no choice. The activities
OF Lawrence Cartwright. Eighth dis
trIct Republican chairman, in be
half OF Mr.. Pitunger lead 10 the
assertion that the Selma man was
favored by the Republican state
organization. Since this report be.
came current It Is said Mr.. Cart
wright has curbed his activities tc
some extent.
Both Mr.. Morgan and Mr.. Pit
finger are farmers and are said tC
be counting for the bulk of theh
support from the farmer member:
I'm the house. Mr.. Morgan, howey'
er. has an active opponent in hii
own district. the Sixth, in Mr. Phil
ups. AIorgan's friends are said Il
be eager to see Mr.. Philips droI
out in the belief that this would
give Mr.. Morgan the entire Sixth
district delegation. Mr.. Phillips
however. has cold his supporter
= that he is i'm the race to stay anI
kviu permit the caucus to make the
Examinations.
Appointment May Satisfy
Mr.. Harris inability to remove
the other two candidates from Lake
county. Mr. Day and Mr.. Ahlgren
has handicapped him. Mr.. Harris
friends believe. 10 is said. that If Ia
IS unable to command a caucus ma
ioritv he win have enough supper
TO name the speaker. In view of tn
rpDorts that Mr. Harris would b.
satisfied with some important com
mittee chairmaushipS such
head OF the ways and means com
mitree. or the fees and salarie
committee. It is said such situa
ton would be satisfactory TO Nh
Harris
Mr. Smith has been confronte
with an almost similar situation
the Inability 90 command the soli
support Of the Marion county dele
CATION 1t is said. though. that re
Gently smith has shown consider
able strength. both inside and out
side the county. and his friends pre-
diet he may ultimately get The fuI
support OF the Marion county dele
CATION.