The Indianapolis times., 1931-03-07
TWO MEASURES
threatened AS
SESSION WAVES
Reapportionment and Pri-
mary Repeal Involved in
Trading Offer.

N~~~~%~ -Ac~+t +AASAAJ NCo III
cluding personnel Of the Republican
state committee Is bearing down on
Democratic leaders with the threat
they must pass the primary repeal
bill or no congressional reapportion-
ment will be enacted, it was learned
authoritatively today.
You've got TO trade" is the edict.
We want the primary repeal bill
If you don't pass that measure in
the house, no reapportionment will
be agreed TO-" has been the ulti-
matum.
r. Earl Peters, Democratic state
chairman, today declared that the
repeal of the primary is repugnant
TO all groups-labor, business, the
farmers and the various women's
organizations.
THE DemQcratic party should not
and ought not sepeal the primary" ,"
he said.
WatsOn's Influence Hinted
Back Of the repeal measure is said
10 be Senator James E. Watson
whose term expires in 1882.
BY eliminating the primary for
the election of delegates to the
state convention, Watson feels that
he would experience no difficult in
being renominated.
In event no reapportionment plan
is worked out in this session and
a special enabling act is passed in
its closing days setting up the ma
chinery for the nominating Of the
United States representatives in
state convention, they would be
elected at large.
1t is recognized there is serious
questions as to the legality Of this
form Of electing the representatives.
But it would react favorably to
Watson, who would have twelve
men stumping the state in his be-
half.
Arthur Greenwood, Second district
representative and Democrat, who
was a visitor in the legislature Fri
day when the senate passed the
Core reapportionment act after
striking out all of its provisions and
inserting the Adams Republican
plan, expressed himself as being un-
alterably opposed to any trading.
He declared the repeal bill should
not be passed.
The repeal bill, introduced by
Senator Joe Rand Beckett (Rep.,
Marion) and thirteen others has
had a stormy career. 1t was ripped
to pieces at Republican state head
quarters and after its introduction
failed once of passage. Pressure
was exerted, and upon its second
trip it was passed.
Bill Goes to Speaker
For a while it remained in house
Judiciary B committee, but was re-
ported out Friday morning without
recommendation and is now on the
desk of Speaker Walter Myers.
If party leaders have their way it
will die there. The measure would
have counties of $4,000 or more nom
mate all officials and delegates in
convention, and make the provi-
sion optional in smaller counties.
Oficial mandate from the United
States congress to reapportion the
state was received by Governor
Harry G. Leslie Friday and trans
mitted to the general assembly.
If any action on this subject Is
to be taken it must be done by con-
ference committees from both houses
by Monday midnight when the sew
enty-seventh general assembly
comes to a close.
There is a possibility in event an
attempt is made to elect representa-
tives at large that the federal
statutes will not permit those elected
to be seated and Indiana will be
without congressional representa-
ton until a reapportionment act is
passed.
Possibility that Democratic repre-
sentatives might attempt to force a
special session through refusing to
concur in senate amendments to the
appropriation bill unless a reappor-
tionment act is passed was nipped
in the bud at the Democratic house
caucus late Friday.
Filibuster Plan Dropped
Although Representative John D.
T. Bold (Dem., Vanderburg) assert
ed the house could force a special
session through refusing to concur
on various measures, other house
leaders declared that such action
would be a two-edged sword.
1t was finally decided to have Earl
Crawford, caucus chairman, appoint
three members to aid the house
conference committee in working out
a realignment Of districts.
According to Washington dis
patches today William Tyler Page,
veteran clerk of the house OF rep
resentatives and authority on con-
stitutional and legislative matters,
has announced that Indiana, If it
chooses, may elect all of its national
representatives at large.
There is nothing about geo.
graphical subdivisions or state con-
gressional districts in the Constitu-
tion," Page said. Subdivisions or
districts are usually made by state
law and the congressman represent
the state"
Husband Gets Divorce