The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-02
DEMOCRATS TO
TALK MINORITY
ASSEMBLY RULE
Outline of Program for
Coming Legislature
Planned.

Democratic members OF the IeBlS-
lature viii confer with R. Earl Pc
tiers. democratic state chairman,
here Thursday on a program en-
bracjrg the party's platform pledges
and feel out sentiment on minority
leadership in both houses.
Twelve senators and twenty rep
resentlaives comprise the minority
representation in the general as
sembly which opens Jan. 10.
The state chairman has committed
himself to only one bill since the
November election. 1t would pro-
vide that names of presidential cleo
tors appear on a separate ballot or
on separate row in voting ma
chimes. 1t aims to eliminate CON
fusion for the voter and afford a
better opportunity for scratching.
In announcing the meeting at
state headquarters in the Claypool
Thursday, Peters outlined no pro-
gram for the legislators. However,
it is believed they will be reminded
OF platform promises which may
find expression in legislation.
Pledged to Salary Cuts
While honesty was made the DOM
inant issue in the state platform,
the Democratic party pledged itself
to reduction Of salaried officials,
Offices, commissions and bureaus to
those necessary 20 manage the pub
lie business; to oppcSs the county
unit system of government for
schools; to take the state board OF
accounts out of politics and see that
it fairly discharges its statutory
duties;" to promote "an efficient
and economical state highway sys-
tenn" to limit the drastic power"
of the state tax board; to favor ade-
quate provision for the state Ii
brary: to favor legislation requir-
ing utilization of Indiana coal by
state institutions; to curb competi-
ton between prison and free labor,
and to support a workman's COM
pensation law that will compare
favorably with compensation laws
of adjoining states.
Hope for Democratic success in
accomplishing many of its pledges
was wrecked with the Republican
landslide which augmented the Re-
publican majority in the senate
from thirty-six to thirty-eight and
the Republican house majority from
sixty-thre to eighty.
The apparent certainty that Re-
publicans will carry out their cam
paign promise to enact legislation
amending the primary law to throw
nominations for United States sena-
tor and Governor into the state con-
ventions and possibly place congress
sional nominations in district con-
ventions, is expected to be a sub
ject of discussion for the Demo-
cratic solons.
Crravens May Head Senate
xMt- what attacks against the pub
lie service commission may come
from the DEMOCRATIC quarter in the
legislature is a matter of specula-
ton. The commission was q target
for Democratic campaign shafts
when it was proposed to restore the
commission to its original purpose by
the appointment of members who
viii protect the public and the util-
tiles by fair rates based on just
valuations only"
With the Speakersh!p of the house
and the president pro tenn. of the
senate safely in the hands of Re
publicans, yet undetermined it re-
mains for Democrats to name can
didateS for these posts who will be-
come, automatically, minority lead
ers in the respective houses.
In the senate the minority lead
ership probably will fall to Joseph
M. Cravens of Madison, dean of the
Democratic senators and minority
leader in 1927. Thurman A. Gott-
scllalk of Berne may be minority
senate member OF the budget COM
mittee.
FabiuS Gwin. attorney and manu-
facturer of Shoals, Ind, reelected
to the 1929 legislature from Du-
bois and Martin counties, is an
avowed candidate for minority
leader of the house. Addison Drake
of Fairbanks, who was Democratic
candidate for Lieutenant Governor
in November, held the post two
years ago.