The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-05
LEGISLATORS OF.
STATE GATHER
FOR ASSEMBLY
Tight Battle Is Waged for
President Pro Tenn.
of Senate.
BY BEN STERN

Although the gavel formally con-
vening the seventy-seventh gen.
eral assembly of Indiana will not be
heard until Thursday morning, pre-
lminary organization work was I'M
der way today with senators and
representatives reporting to their
party headquarters here.
Candidates of various aSpirants
for Speakership of the house and
president pro tenn. of the senate are
being pushed.
Several Democratic senators to-
day declared that there is a posi-
bility of State Senator Addison
Drake of Fairbanks, becoming q
dark horse candidates for minority
leader Of the upper house. He is
the third in the field. The two
other ayowed candidates are Sena-
tor Walter S. Chambers. Newcastle,
publisher and former state chair
man, a dry; and Senator Chester
Perkins of South Bend, wet veteran
member.
Only Eleven Votes Needed
Drake, prominent in the Farm
Bureau Federation, was minority
house leader in 1927 and was the
Democratic nominee for lieutenants
governor in 1928. Only eleven votes
are needed for the election as mi
nority leader.
The contest for president pro-
tenn of the senate is resulting in
tight battle with the veteran Sen
ator James ]. Nejdl of Whiting,
thrice president, said to have the
edge and Senator French Clements
of Evansville. next in line.
Senator I. Floyd CARROT of Bat
tie Ground and Roy Friendly of
Muncie also are campaigning. Fiji
teen votes are needed for the cleo
ton.
In City Several Days
Nejdl has been in the city for
several days and has consulted with
various senators; while Clements is
said to have the support of Lieu
tenant Governor Edgar D. Bush of
Salem, who is endeaviring to build
up sufficient strength to win the
G.. o. P. nomination for Governor
in 1882.
Bush has declared several times,
however, that he is maintaining a
policy of handS-of in the contest.
Announcement of Farm Fedora
ton leaders that they are not ac-
lively supporting Earl Crawford Of
Milton, banker and former highway
commission member, for speaker of
the house is reacting against Craw-
ford, it was declared today. Craw-
ford's friends have maintained he
has the federations support. 49,
Field Clear for Myers
With a weakening of the bankers
position the field is cleared for Wal
ter Myers of indianapolis, who has
been the most formidable contender
since the primary.
Myers friends claim he has more
than fifty votes pledged, while only
hirty-eight votes are necessary.
DELPHI McKesson of Plymouth is re-
ported gaining strength in his cam
paign for the post.
Democratic representatives will
hold their caucus Wednesday at 7:30
p. m. in the house, as they are in
the majority. r. Earl Peters, Dem
ocratic state chairman, Will pueside
The Republican senators will caucus
at the same hour in the senate
chamber with Bush presiding.
Joint Session to Be Held
Democratic senators will caucus
at headquarters in the Claypool,
and Republican representatives will
meet at the SEVERN.
A joint conference Of Republican
senators and Representatives will
be held at 10 a. m. Wednesday ct
the SEVERN, according to Harry
Fenton, G. o. P. state secretary.
James Knapp of Hagerstown.
1929 speaker, is assured the G. o. P.
election for house minority leader.
Candidates to Be Named
At the caucuses, the Republican
senators will select their candidates
for the various senate clerical
offices. Leland X. Fishback, 1929
secretary, is expected to be re-
elected with Wilson Daily as assist
ant, and Jerome Brown of Middle
town, veteran doorkeeper, renamed,
Dick Heller, of the Decatur Demo
crat, is without opposition for clerk
of the house. Paul v. Hill, Indian
apolis. is a candidate for assistant
clerk, and there are two aspirants
for principal doorkeeper, Dial Wan
dali of Bluffton, and David S. Proer
of Shelby county.