The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-11-28
SIX ENTRANTS
IN RACE FOR
House GAvEL
SpeakerShip Will Be Chief
Topic When Democrats
Meet Here Monday.
TWO SHOW STRENGTH
Best Chances to Win Con-
coded to Earl Crawford
and Walter Myers.
BY BEN STERN.

J
BY BEN STERN.
Speakership fight will come to the
fore Monday when Democratic rep
resentatives meet here at 10 a. m.
to discuss the tentative program for
the 1881 session, be handed copies
of measures drafted in accord with
platform pledges and listen to the
pleas of supporters of various can
didates for the gavel.
Even though they will attend the
reception following the induction
into Office of the new secretary and
auditor Of state. Frank Mayr Jr.. of
South Bend, and Floyd Williamson
OF indianapolis, the principal topic
OF conversation will be the speaker
ship.
The six announced aspirant9 Tor
the post are Walter Myers, Demo-
cratic candidate for mayor of In
dianapolis in 1925, and for the
1928 nomination for United States
/ senator; Earl Crawford, Milton
/ banker, former member of the
state highway commission, and 1928
candidate for the nomination Tor
Governor; DELPHI NTcKesson of PIyln-
outh, veteran legislator and foe OF
the power trusts; Fabius Gwin of
| Shoals. another veteran: William
McClain of Evansville, a newcomer,
and David H. Byers of Vincennes.
who was a member of the 1927
| house.
Myers and Crawford Lead
The two outstanding contenders
are easily Myers and Crawford.
The former, through his campaign
| for senator and his vitriolic speeches
is widely known and, his friends de-
clare, has already been pledged six
/ ty-five votes.
But thirty-eight votes are needed
in the Democratic caucus to obtain
the nomination. Myers in his
Speakership campaign, it is easily
discerned, is pointing toward the
1882 nomination for senator.
! Crawford is said to be assured the
support Of representatives from the
rural section. He was busily en-
gagged in mingling with the 1000
delegates to the Indiana Farm
Bureau convention here the forcpart
of the week and soliciting them to
bring pressure on their representa-
tives to go to his support.
Opponents of the present high
way commission are urging that
Crawford be elected in order that
a probe Of the road department be
launched.
GubernatOrial Bee Buzzes
There can be little doubt that
Crawford hopes to use the speak
ership as stepping stone to the
governorship.
McKesson is engaged in working
up support among those forces who
feel that the utilities should be
under strict supervision and con-
troll. AS a member of the important
judiciary A committee of the house,
he has fought for every measure
tending to curb the power trusts
Byers is expected to withdraw
from the race and both his and Nc
Claims bid for the speakership IS
declared by many to be means
whereby they can obtain chairman
ships Of important committee
In the background, however, turks
| the figure of George L. Saunders,
Bluffton publisher and minority
floor leader in the last session whose
ready wit and political sagacity are
regarded with respect by friend and
foe alike. Many are wondering what
Saunders is going to do. He has
not announced for speaker and is
said to be ILL Saunders will be a
tower of strength to whatever can-
didate he favors, and, it is said, is
expected to head the important
committee on congressional reap
portionment.
Publisher Wants Gavcl
Two candidates for the post of
senate minority leader are already
in the field They are Walter S.
Chambers of Newcastle, publisher, a
one-time senator and former chair
man of the Democratic state com
Inittee, and Chester A. Perkins Of
South Bend, engineer, and also a
former state senator.
Chambers is an avowed dry while
Perkins is a wet. The prohibition
issue may be injected into the con-
test, it has been declared.
James Knapp Of Hagerstown, 1929
speaker, is expected to be readily
accorded the post Of Republican
minority house leader; while a bit
ter contest is developing for presi-
dent pro tenn. of the senate. Active
candidates are French Clements Of
Evansville and l. Floyd Garrett OF
Battle Ground. There are expected
to be several other senators in the
race by the time the party caucus
4 is held. Little doubt is existent 2
that the veteran, James ]. Nejdl Of
Whiting, will be candidate.
There is also a possibility that
through virtue of being one Of the
spokesman Of Governor Leslie on
the tax conference, j. Clyde Hoff-
man of indianapolis, may be a can
didate.
Clements served several terms III
the house before being elected TO
the senate; Garrett is in his second
term and was elected caucus chair
man in the last session; Nejdl
served as floor leader for three
terms while Hoffman is going into
/ the second half Of his first term.
The latter has been on close terms
with the Governor, however, and
it may develop that Leslie will lend
him his support.
Former Resident Drowned