The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-03-06
NEWS REVIEW OF
/. CURRENT EVENTS
Indiana Democratic Solons
Leave Stateato Prevent
Alleged Gerrymander.
sx EpwARp w. PlcKARp

DEMOCRATS of the Indiana senate,
taking a leaf from the book OF
the Rhode Island Republican senator's
Of last year, runaway from their capt.
tai, and their state last week to save
their party from what they feared
would be dangerous gerrymander.
Eighteen of them bOlted, and fifteen
took refuge in Ohio where, it was as
serted, they we're safe from arrest.
Thus the quorum was broken and no
Legislation was possible.
! 1t all started with plan OF the Re-
publicans to pass a bill taking Law
renee county from the Third congress
sionai district, which is normally
Democratic, and adding 1t to the Sec
ond district, which is doubtful. AS
Lawrence county is strongly Republic
an this scheme would decrease the
chances Of the Democrats for electing
q congressman from the Second dis
trict. So, calling themselves, Gods
own minority. * they absented them
selves from the senate session. When
the chief doorkeeper was sent to ar
rest them they locked themselves in
hotel room, md later, hearing that the
militia was to be used In coercing
them, they sought sanctuary outside
the state. Only three Democratic SEN
ators remained in Indianapolis-one as
lookout and two who were Ill. War
rants were issued for the arrest Of 16
of them, but the Ohio authorities said
they saw no way In which they could
aid the Indiana Republicans Nothing
like this has happened in Indiana since
1869 when the Democratic minority in
the legislature resigned so that the If
teenth amendment to the federal Con-
stitution could not be taken up for
ratification.
Later in the week some sort Of COM
promise was arranged and the boiling
senators started back to Indianapolis.
A BOUT one hundred women, repre-
a senting o. million members Of ma
tional women's organizations, spent
several days in Washington in con-
ference on ways Of keeping the peace
of the world. They are not paeifists.
not advocates of immediate disarma-
ment, but patriots who believe the dan
gers Of war may be lessened. The
government, led by President Coolidge
himself, took lively interest in the
meeting and he and other high officials
gave the women brief but snappy lee
lures on national defense as a peace
Insurance The President talked to
them, on rational reduction Of arma-
nent, saying:
about in proportion as the nations
shall make progress in creating effec-
tive tribunals for the peaceful settle
ment Of international differences they
will find themselves able to lessen
their military establishments. For the
present the most we can hope is to Sc
cure general acceptance, in good faith
and without reservation. Of the view
that whatever ornaments we create,
whatever preparations we make, shall
be- limited by the reasonable require
ments Of security. I do not think we
should set a good example by abolish
Ing our army and navy"
Then Secretary Of War Weeks dis
cussed impractical idealism and prac-
tical preparedness, and Gen. John l..
Hines, chief of staff, gave an illuminat-
ing talk on the national defense act
and what is needed for self protection.
Preparedness, industrial and military,
were discussed by Assistant Secretary
of War Davis and Maj Gen. Hanson
Il. Ely, commandment Of the army war
college, Gen. Ely Helmick gave les
son on "The Undermining of the Youth
of the Nation" and told the women !:
Radical societies that teach social
Ism, communism and syndicalism, and
that advocate violent changes In our
governmental system, exist in George
Washington university, the University
of Chicago, Northwestern university.
Wellesley college, Bryn Mawr and Vas
gar."
Rear Admiral W. w. Phelps fur
nished the sensation of the second
days session with a series of startling
statements concerning oil. trade and
Great Britain. Said he: