Indiana daily times., 1922-05-19
CHAMBERS IS
NEW HEADOF
DEMOCRATS
Chairman Is Selected
by Unanimous
Ballot.
ISSUES OF STATE
Basis for Campaign
in Indiana This
Fall.

The election Of Walter S. Chambers of
Newcastle as State chairman by the
new Democratic State committee and
decision of the advisory platform COM
mittee that the campaign this year would
center largely on State issues, marked
the gathering of Democrats from all
parts of Indiana at the Denison Hotel
today.
No opposition was presented to the
selection Of Chambers, and he was
named by unanimous action Of the COM
mittee. The other officers were also
named by acclamation. They are: Mrs.
A. P. Flynn of Logansport, vice chair
man, and Miss Gertrude McHugh Of In
danapolis, secretary.
M'FADDEN HEADS
ADVISORY PLATFORM.
Following his election as State chair
man, Mr.. Chambers announced the ap-
pointment of John s. MeFadden Of Rock
ville chairman of the advisory platform
committee, which place had been held by
| Mr.. Chambers. The platform committee
met but drafted no planks, merely get
ting the consensus of opinion of the mem
, bers on the campaign issue. Mr.. Nc
Fadden was unable to attend the meeting
but will be present at another meeting
next week when drafts of proposed
planks will be prepared, it was an
nounced
Samuel NJ Ralston, candidate for
United States senator, attended the meet
ing of the platform committee and took
part in the discussions.
Alleged waste and extravagance In
State Government, high taxation, arbi-
trary and unconstitutional authoriH
taken by the State board of tax comm
sioners, will form the basis for SO
of the platform planks, it was decid
STATE ISSUES ARE
TO BE PARAMOUNT"
"You can say that stare issle Is
going to be paramount in this
paign," Mr.. Chambers said. I'VE
denim the extraordinary powers
! ferred on State boards. We are cd
| to stand for reduction of taxes, &c
| omy and businesslike management of
| States AFFAIRS
/ National issues were not discussed
!, the meeting of the platform commit
! bnt it IS understood that the commit
/ will follow largely the lead of Mr.. ri
I ston in determining the attitude on
! tional questions.
Waste and extravaganza of the nigh
way department and use of the depart
/ ment for politics was condemned by the
! committee. A plank destined to make
/ the Indiana public service commission
/ more responsive to the needs Of the peo-
| pie was determined upon by the. COM
mittee, whose members condemned the
| resignation of members of the commits
| sion to become associated with utility
corporations, showing. 1t was said, too
( close attiliatfon between the utilities and
I the commission.
! The platform is expected to contain
! strong suggestion for changes in the tax
| law. Delegation of power to fix tax
! levies to the State board of tax COM
/ missioners by the Legislature was de-
! clared unconstitutional.
ABOLITION OF
/ USELESS BOARDS.
I John S. McFadden, chairman Of the
! advisory committee, is said to be in SYM
pathy with a plank demanding "aboIi-
/ ton of large number of useless State
boards, bureaus and commissions. being
j kept up at the expense of the taxpayers"
! He is said to have prepared a plank
J which will be presented at the next meet
| ing of the committee which attacks the
workings of the Goodrich" tax law.
| 1t was reported that the Democratic
1 platform probably will not contain
plank on the primary law. The Repub-
| licans plan to demand its repeal.
! After naming the officers of the State
committee, vacancy caused by the res
/ ignation of Miss Julia Landers as ma
! tional committeewoman was taken up.
i Mrs James Riggs Of Sullivan was named
! for the place. All members of the State
committee participated in the meeting.
After the election of officers a number
of speeches were made which dwelt par
/ ticularly on prospects of Democratic
success next fall.
1t developed at the meeting today that
| the contest for the nomination for sec
! retary of State may have several entries.
/ Judge Joseph Shea of Seymour, mem
| Der of the advisory platform committee,
intimated that Edward Elsner Of Sey-
t mour, former member Of the Legislature.
| may be a candidate The name Of Henry
Barnhart of Rochester was being boosted
! by Democrats from the northern part Of
the State. A desire was expressed that
/ the candidate to head the State ticket
| be as strong can be found, seemed uni
yersal among the Democrats at the
| meeting.