The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-23
LAW MAKERS
SHOW DEARTH
OF LEADERSHIP
Session So Far Has Caused
Dissatisfaction Among
House Democrats.
STRIFE WITHIN PARTY
Republican insurgency I'M
pairs Numerical Power
in Senate.
BY BEN STERN

GSdu6ESillp Is distinguished by It's
absence in the present general as
sembly, if the record of the first two
weeks of the session may be taken
as a criterion of what to expect for
the remaining nine weeks.
Democrats in the house are plain
ly dissatisfied, their disappointment
is marked and they are giving vent
openly to their discomfort.
On the other hand, the Repub-
licans in that body being in the
minority, need not exert themselves
to find opportunity to throw their
opponents into a, tangle.
First evidence of lack of real Lead
-ers was displayed this week when
Representative Fred S. Galloway
Oem., Marion, introduced a reso-
luton calling for the appointment
of a committee of three to investi-
gate alleged shortages in the state
oil inspection department.
Before he could turn around tbs
Republicans moved to amend the
resolution by having all members Of
the probe body belong to the ma
jority and Galloway accepted the
amendment.
There seemed to he no one present
to advise him not to agree and as a
result it was necessary to postpone
consideration and later withdraw
the resolution.
Laughter Provoked
In the debate on this question.
Democrat fought Democrat and no
one took charge of the mess, while
the minority members had a hearty
laugh at their opponents predica-
ment.
One Of tie outstanding features
of the session so far is utter dis
harmony in the Marion county dele
cation.
This has been so pronounced that
1t has. been necessary for State
Chairman r. Earl Peters to confer
with members of the delegation and
ADVISE no breaks or disagreements
on the floor; and H. Nathan Swain.
Democratic county chairman, held
similar meeting Thursday to warn
the representatives from Marion
county there must be harmony.
AS floor leader DELPHI McKesson
Den1., MarshalD, has not risen to
the opportunities in the manner
that was expected.
HartzeII Falls Short
AS for the senate, the record there
is also a big round cipher. Senator
Walter Chambers Hancock, Henry
and Madison), Democratic minority
leader, has not been called upon to
exert much generalship and he has
been handicapped by some days Of
absence because of illness in his
family, while even the best friends
OF Senator Lee j. Hartzell (Allen
and Noble, Republican leader.
would not claim that he possessed
any potential talent as a COM
mander.
Hartzen was elected president
pro tenn. as a compromise choice to-
defeat Senator James j. Nejdl Rep.,
Lake..
G. o. p. Senators Split
The Democrats in the house have
one advantage of the Republican
majority in the senate. The house
majority is so topheavy, "a to 25:
that the leaders can discipline any
member without hurting the party's
voting strength; while the Repub-
lican senate majority is torn by in
surgency.
One of the laughs of the week
was occaSioned when Lieutenant-
Governor Bush, acting as presiding
officer Of the child health confer
ence, was forced to introduce Lewis
ChaSey, secretary to the Governor,
who gave the welcoming address.
There sat the Lieutenant-Goy
ernor while the Governors secretary
extended the greetings of the state.
1t seemed to many to be deliberate
sighting Of Bush and was freely
commented upon.