The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-12-05
STATE C. O.P.
LEADERS MEET
WITH SECRECY
Gov. Leslie DiSapproveS
Any Publicity on Legis-
lative Conference.
HIGHWAY QUIZ FEARED
Possibility Of TWo-Party
Coalition Gives Executive
Cause for Apprehension.
BY BEN STERN

resentipg opposite poles of political
thought, we're unfolded during the
past week.
Without fear of publicity or open
discussion, Democratic senators and
representatives met here Monday
to vote their approval Of the propo-
5ition that promises contained in
the party platform be framed into
tentative bills End copies sent to
all Democratic members of the gen.
eral assembly.
Behind closed doors and with
secrecy demanded by Governor
Harry c. Leslie, Republican SEN
ators met Thursday and after
six-hour conference selected Sen
ator Joe Rand Beckett of Indian
apolis to be their spokesman to the
press.
Senator Beckett did not know
what had been discussed-he said
so-declared that no program of any
sort had been preached and could
not tell what the Governor had
talked about during the six hours.
He did admit, under constant
questioning, that committee,
headed by himself and including
s. Senator Rollo N. Walter of Lagrange
and Senator Lonzo L. Shull of
Sharpsville had been appointed to
snoop around like hounds" confer
with the Governor and report back
to a legislative conference on Jan. 5.
Beckett did - and could not say
for what purpose the shopping" was
to be done or what the conferences
with the Governor were to be about.
Governor Opposes Publicity
From other sources it was learned,
however, that after voicing his dis
approval of any publicity after the
doors had been shut, Leslie at
tempted to obtain the views of the
senators OH several recommends
tions he is thinking of placing in his
biennial message.
Silence met the Governors at
tempt to sound out the senators on
the topics of income tax, free text
books and old-age pensions.
So Slight was the discussion which
followed his discourse that Leslie re-
turned in the afternoon to continue
his attack.
During the morning session the
Governor INDUCED in criticism of
hose G.. 0. P. senators who are
prone TO 6isparage the work of the
highway commission and might
Join a coalition with the Democrats
to demand probe of the road body.
In discussing these insurgents,
Nr1f Of
Charles Strey of Wabash, who has
been outspoken in his criticism, and
who was at the meeting.
S5rey left at noon and did not re-
turn to the conference.
A thorough probe of the high
way commission, which is ex-
pected to disclose gross mismanage-
ment, extravaganza and inefficiency,
is hanging over the administration
like a Damocletian sword.
With the Democrats in control of
the house, such an investigation is
sure to be urged there, and with in
surgent Republicans joining Demo-
Gratis in the senate, that body might
be pushed into the movement.
It was with this in mind that
Leslie inveighed against Republican
critics and Lieutenant-Go Governor
Edgar D. Bush declared:
of course. there can not be har-
nonious agreements with Demo-
Gratis on purely political measures"
State Chairman Absent
The conference got away to a
bad start when Bush reported that
Eliza o. Rogers. Republican state
chairman, could not be present be-
cause of participation in law suit
at Lebanon.
a better explanation than a mere
law suit was given as the reason for
Rogers absence.
The chairman has not forgotten
the reprimand that Leslie admins
tered him in the presence of news
paper men and r. Earl Peters. Dem
ocratic chairman. several weeks ago.
when Rogers refused to name Re
publican members of a bipartisan
committee to study the re-appor-
tionment problem and make recon-
mendations to the legislature.
Rogers has declared that reap
portionment is a party measure and
does not want bipartisan COM
mittee.
The chairman probably felt that
if he appeared at the conference
and Leslie discussed the question
Of redistricting the state. he would
be forced into an open break with
the executive.
This would be particularly I'M
pleasant at this time with the leg
islature converting in a month.
Rogers will probably attend the
conference Of meeting of the
twenty-five Republican representa-
tives next Thursday.
Harmony Appears Unlikely
There can be little doubt that
harmony will be noticeable by its
absence among the Republican SEN
ators when the session opens, If
y what happened Thursday may be
taken as a fair token.
The race for president protein. of
the senate is well under way with
the veterans. James j. Nejdl of
Whiting and French Clements of
Evansville, showing much strength
Senator 1. Floyd Carrot of Battle
Ground is also said to have quite
following. while j. Clyde Hoffman
of indianapolis is in receptive
mood.
But fifteen votes are necessary to
obtain the election in the caucus
and Nejdl's friends claim that he
has already been pledged more than
that number.