The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-11-14
DEMOCRATS IN
/, Tolls OF JOB
FILLING TASK
Applicants Descend in
DroveS Upon Leaders of
Victor Party.
RACE FOR HOUSE GAvEL
Speakership Will Be Topic
Dec. | at Meeting of
Legislators.
BY BEN STERN

speakership of the house of rep
resentatives are giving Indiana
Democratic party leaders, what may
be termed headache.
For fourteen years Democrats
have not been able to feed at the
patronage trough Now, with the
major state offices in their control,
there is a rush for public jobs.
Governor Harry G.. Leslie's play
for Democratic support during the
next legislature session, which was
made Thursday when he called in
Eliza o. Rogers, G.. o. P. state chair
man, and virtually told the Repub-
lican leader that he must get to-
gether" with Chairman Peters on
the latter's plan for bipartisan
committee on congressional reap
portionment, is being regarded with
suspicion in Republican circles. Pc
ters and newspaper men we're pres
ent when the edict was made.
1t was seen by some as an attempt
by the Governor to dictate to the
Republican organization and assert
his control, and by others as a
means for Leslie to show that he is
DESTROYS of playing ball with the
. Democrats who have top heavy
majority IN the house.
Leslie has been promised much
embarrassment in the next legis-
lature. by his enemies and it is be-
lieved he hopes to offset this by
playing with the Democrats.
May Turn on Leslie
Republicans, however, have con-
troll of the senate and may be urged
into reprisals on the Governor by
his stand.
With an opposition house and an
insurgent senate Leslie will not be
in an enviable position.
Frank Mayr Jr., secretary of
state-elect. and Floyd williamson
auditor elect, are the two who are
being deluged with patronage re-
quests. They will assume Office
Dec. l.
The secretary of state makes sew
eral hundred appointments, and
selects the automobile license agen-
cies in each county.
Among the important posts under
his control are deputy secretary OF
state; head of the securities COM
mission, chief securities examiner,
chief of the state police, Superin-
tendent of the bureau of criminal
investigation and identification, and
superintendent of the automobile
license division.
Several aspirants for these posts
are already in the open. Grover
Garrett, Ninth district chairman
and Frankfort street commissioner,
and Earl Spradley, Warrick county
chairman and police chief of Boon
vile are seeking the position of
chief of the state police.
The name of Walter A. Shead,
newspaperman who handled the
publicity for the Marion county
committee during the campaign is
also mentioned.
The post is now held by Robert
T. Humes. The salary is $4,000 a
year.
MiShawaka Man Mentioned
William O'Neil of Mishawaka,
former lieutenant governor, is said
to be receiving mention for the ap-
pointment as deputy secretary of
state. O'Neil was very active in
the Mayr pre-convention campaign
and accompanied the new secretary
everywhere during the election
campaign.
Consideration is being given Ed
ward P. Brennan. state accounts
board member. for the post of Sc
curities commissioner.
Brennan, it is reported, was an
important figure during the cam
paign. Mark Rhoads is the in
cumbent.
Will Chambers. publisher of an
indianapolis weekly paper who ham
died publicity for the state commit
tee, is an aSpirant for the position
of chief examiner of the securities
commission. This post is now held
by Earl Coble of Redkey.
It is known that Williamson has
appointed Amos r. Wood, treasurer
of the state committee during the
campaign to a travelling authorship
in the gasoline tax collection divi-
sion.
Pork Beadle, until recently editor
of a Delphi paper and former presi-
dent of the state Democratic press
association is another applicant for
a similar authorship.
Job Seekers File In
Almost daily conferences have
been held by Mayr with r. Earl
Peters. state chairman, over the
question of patronage. Chester
Montgomery. former mayor of South
Bend: Mayor w. Riley Hinkle and
Rudolph Alderman. city controller
of South Bend, have sat in at all of
the conferences. A steady stream Of
county and district chairmen has
been in audience for patronage.
The speakership fight will come to
the fore at the conference of legiS-
lators-elect called for 10 a. m,
Dee. I.
Definite announcement of candi-
dacy was made this week by DELPHI
McKeSson of Plymouth and David
H. BeyerS of Vincennes.
Both we're members of the 1927
1 and 1929 houses and McKeSSon was
q member of the board of managers
for the Judge Clarence Dearth i'm
Deachment proceedings.
Announcement by these two puts
" four men IN the field for Speaker.
The two others are Walter Myers,
Indianapolis, Democratic candidate
for mayor of indianapolis in 1925
and aspirant for the nomination for
senator IN 1928. and Earl Crawford
of Milton. former highway commits
sion member and candidate for the
nomination for Governor nj 1928.
4 These latter two are said to be the
outstanding candidates.