The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-13
REGISTRATION
BILL SAVED BY
HONESTY PLEA
Minority Report Winner in
House Roll Call; Vote
Is "a to %.
WOMAN LEADS FIGHT
Sounds Appeal for Fair
Elections in Indiana as
Debate Climax.

Challenged to vote aye" Tor hon
est elections, the Indiana house OF
representatives today substituted.
"a to %, a minority report of the
elections committee favoring pas
sage of the Nfisener registration
bill, Tor the majority report, which
would have meant its death.
From appeals made in behalf of
advancing the measure to second
reading and amendment, it was eVi-
dent that the vote was not a clear
demonstration of house favor.
But even those opposed declared
the need of some sort of registra-
ton.
Mrs. zeola Hershey Misener
(Rep) Of Michigan City, who in
PRODUCED tie bill drafted by the
League of Women Voters. climaxed
the debate on substitution Of the
minority report for passage.
Pleads for Honesty
THE question you must ask your
selves before you voteon this mo-
tion," she said, lis Am I in favor
of honest elections in Indiana?'
AS your names are called, let
your vote be the answer!"
Fourteen "ayes" in succession re-
suited before anyone dared deflec-
ton.
Only two of Marion county's
eleven representatives voted mo-
They were Lloyd D. Claycombe and
Henry. F. Kottkamp.
Representative Harold r. Don
nell, chairman of the elections conf
mittee, whose divided report pro-
voked the debate, led the attack
against the measure.
"There is a general demand for
registration, but this is not the
right answer" he declared. IF this
method of registration were put
into effect, it would cost 100000
Or 100000 for the first registration
and about $4,000 every two years
thereafter. In addition, some 500
or 1000 precincts would have to be
added to Indiana's $500, and this
means more expense"
Question Studied Carefully
Republicans and Democrats alike
took up the cudgel to save the bill
from a premature death. They
pointed out that it represented two
years work by the League of Wom-
en- Voters, during which they had
received the advice of experts and
made wide investigation in other
states.
Representative J. Glenn Harris
of Gary, majority floor leader.
warned that death for the bill
might, under house rules, prevent
further consideration of a registra-
ton bill III the house.
Representatives Frank E. Wright
of Indianapolis. and Oscar A. ALL
gren Of Whiting, asserted honest
elections are worth more than the
cost entailed by the proposed regis
tration bill, and pointed out that
it might be amended on second
reading if desired.
Democrats who argued for keep
ing the measure alive included Rep
DELPHI l.. McKesson OF
Plymouth, and William Dentlinger
of ConnerSville.
Minority Report Adopted
After reports were substituted OH
a roll call vote. the minority report
for passage was adopted by a viva
yoce vote.
Those who signed the minority
report we're Representatives Roy =.
Street of Lafayette, Horace r.
Stauffer of Nappanee and Lafayette
Gilley of Lafayette, Republicans,
and Dentlinger, Democrat.
Signing the report for indefinite
we're: Representatives
Joseph r. Scott of New
Albany, Robert B. Stewart Of Bra
I'll, Oliver P. Lafuze of Liberty, Hay-
vey G. Eshelman Of Kendallyille.
Y. Foster of Carmel and
Republican. and Elmer
son E. McGriff of Portland, Demo-