The Indianapolis times., 1930-12-26
C. 0. P. ROUT
BIG EVENT IN
1890 POLITICS
Indiana Citizens Used Bal
lots to End Regime
Of IneffiCienCy.
AELZA ROGERS MAY QUIT
Deeds of ViCtorS Will De-
termine Who Will Win
in 1882 Election.
BY BEN STERN

BY BEN STERN
With q few words Of incarnation,
the time has come to tear aside the
' mists which veil the future and do
little Indiana political crystal
gazing.
This representation racket is all
right when predictions come true,
but if they don't, the embryo
prophet has to look up a fresh stock
OF ahbis in order to keep his Eli
.ah mantle from furnishing.
AS was predicted at the beginning
v. OF 1880, the Republican party has
been swept from power in the state
and the Democrats are now occupy
5ng the seats Of the mighty.
The undercurrent of resentment
which caused the era of political
corruption in Indiana, now dignified
by the name of the Jackson -Steph
Rnson- Coffin epoch, to be repudiated,
became tidal wave in 1880 as
result of the failure of Governor
/
to clean house and the celebrates
disgust with the personnel of its
estate government and attendant in
efficiency.
Lake County Changes
The most remarkable feature of
this overturn was the fact that Lake
county, always the stronghold of
Republicanism, has changed the
eagle for the growing rooster.
There can be little doubt that
Eliza O. Rogers, G.. o. P. state chair
man, will resign soon after the SeS-
sion of the legislative assembly.
Rogers is not cashing in his
checks because of the fact that the
party was defeated under his gen.
eralship, for he points out that no
matter who would have headed the
organization, the outcome would
have been the same.
His reason for resigning is that
his political activities have prac-
tically ruined his law practice and
he must recuperate.
Rogers has been chairman since
1928 and has devoted much of his
time to the duties of the position.
No successor has been selected yet,
although the name of Ivan Morgan,
of Austin, Third district chairman,
is receiving much mention.
Two Democratic Alliances
The end of the year will see a
closely knit r. Earl Peters-Paul v.
McNutt- Thomas D. Taggart organ
ization in control of the Democratic
party, it is pointed out. In opposi-
tion will be a more or less loose
alliance between Chester Montgom-
cry and Rudy Ackerman of South
Bend with a southwestern group
headed by Gilbert Bosse of Evans
willie.
Peters. in all probability. will not
be a candidate for reelection as
state chairman, partially because of
the bitter fight to unseat him waged
last spring, when he only won by
one vote, and also because his pri-
vate practice demands his attention.
But the trio will, in effect, attempt
to name the next chairman.
Much of their success and of the
party's success will depend upon the
conduct Of the Democratic house of
representatives this year and other
Democratic officials.
The American Legion will come to
the front as one of the most impor-
tant factors in the state Democratic
1 party. 1t will be brought into the
picture as AIcNutt's contribution to
fr.ffr To &c r. -.
be instrumental in supporting his
nomination and election as Govern
or in 1882.
Drys Weaken
One of the most significant fea-
lures in the changing political
horoscope will be the weakness of
the Indiana Anti-Saloon League,
sVaich is to be the target of terrific
onslaughts in the legislature. The
mildest of the dry law changes ad-
vocated, and in which many former
Staunch drys will join, will be the
modification of the Wright bone dry
law so as to permit the sale of
medicinal whisky.
Attempts to repeal the Wright
law VIII be made, but as it now
appears, with but little success.
There can be no doubt that the hey
day of the Anti-Saloon Leagues in
= fluence in state politics has passed
and that its Importance is on the
wane.
The cause of public ownership of
utilities will grow stronger, largely
because Of the attempt of the Mu-
nicipaI League, composed of Indiana
mayors, to obtain the passage of en-
abling legislation which will permit
cities to bring condemnation pro-
ceedings against privately owned
utilities and issue revenue bonds
with which to pay for them. There
is no provision to issue such bonds
in existing statutes.
All enabling act to permit the city
of Indianapolis to operate all types
of public utilities will also be intro
duced and is expected to be passed.
Busy Year for Commissioners
In reviewing the year attention
hluEt be given to the work Of the
Governors commissions on state aid
Tor schools, crime increase, tax re-
form and unemployment.
The state aid commission has pre-
bared two plans for presentation to
The legislature. The tax conference
has long list of recommendations
FOR relief Of the burden on real
property. which will be the subject
bf bitter attacks from various or
ganizatiops and groups of the legis-
lature. While two proposals made
by the crime conference. one calling
for all rules Of legal procedure to be
made by the supreme court and the
other for the nonpartisan election
OF judges have received the indorSe-
ment Of the State Bar Association.
The unemployment commission
has been IN existence for so short
period that its work can not be