The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-11-10
BONE DRY LAW
REPEAL PLAN
TO Be PUSHED
State Democratic High
Command Considering
Pledge RedemptionS.
CONFERENCE IS CALLED
Program to Be Discussed
by Party Leaders Mon
day at French Lick.
BY BEN STERN

ACA at OthOtt E-tONH
BY BEN STERN
Although all election returns have
not been received and tabulated,
members of the Democratic high
command today turned its attention
to redemption Of the platform
pledges, including repeal of the
Wright bone-dry law and selection
of a Speaker for the house of rep
resentatives.
Earnest discussion of the pro-
gram will be taken up Monday at
French Lick at a conference of
party leaders.
Among those who will be present
according to plans formulated to-
day, are Senator elect Frederick
Van Mugs, Governor ELECT Paul V.
McNutt; Thomas D. Taggart, ma
tional committeeman; r. Earl
Peters, state chairman; H. Nathan
Swain, Marion county chairman.
Repeal of the Wright law is con-
sidered certain with the increased
wet support that will be in both
houses of the legislature when it
convenes in January.
The repeater bill easily went
through the house during the last
regular and special sessions of the
legislature when Democrats held
1925 majority, but it foundered both
times in the senate against the 90
81 Republican control.
First Speakership Bid
First bid for the house speaker
ship has been made by Earl Craw-
ford of Milton, veteran represent
alive from Wayne and Union coun-
ties, who has issued a formal state
ment. Because of his pronounced
dry views there will be con-
siderable opposition to his selection
as Speaker. He was candidate for
the post in 1881, but was elected
caucus chairman.
There will be few veterans among
the Democrats in the house. and
that is why all with previous serv-
ice are expected to make bid for
the speakership. Among others
whose names are being mentioned
are Fabius Gwin of Shoals and Will
liam j. Black of Anderson.
Although neither has made formal
announcement teir friends are
bringing forth their names.
This will be one of the major
problems to be discussed at the
French Lick conference.
Chambers May Head Senate
State Senator Walter S. Cham
bers, Newcastle publisher and for
mer state chairman, who was Demo-
cratic floor leader in the regular and
special sessions, is favored for the
post of president pro tempore of the
senate, and little or no opposition
is expected.
Not only will dry law repeal legis-
lation be discussed at the confer
ence, but machinery must be ar
ranged for holding a constitutional
convention to decide on repeal or
modification of the eighteenth
amendment.
Such action is requested of con-
gress in the Democratic state plat
form. This plank calls upon the
national house to submit an amend
ment for the repeal of the eight
zenith to be submitted to non
partisan conventions of the people
of the several states The national
platform provides for the same
thing.
Discuss Party Pledges
1t thus will be necessary for the
general assembly meeting in Janu-
airy to prepare for the submission
OF this proposal.
Other important pledges which
must be redeemed through legisla-
lation are the strengthening of the
states control of the public util-
tiles, providing easier methods for
municipal ownership of utilities
and home rule for utilities so owned
and operated.
An adequate income tax law also
must be framed and companion leg
iSlation to make the $3.50 maximum
tax law workable will have to be
drafted.
Not only did the Democrats make
a clean sweep of all state and con-
greSsional posts Tuesday, but they
also rolled up an unprecedented ma
jority, according to unofficial tabu-
lationS.
Van Nuys Leads Ticket
Van Mugs led the state and ma
tional tickets, not only in the plur-
atty, but in the size of the popular
vote. The 3,5O1 of the 1891 pre-
cinctS reported accord him a vote
of 8l2.937 and Senator James E.
Watson 62l,042. Van Nuys' plurality
so far is 1885.
McNutt ranks second in popular
vote and plurality. He is accorded
606,S48 votes while his opponent
Raymond S. Springer is given 62S,-
o28. McNutt's plurality is 10000.
Franklin D. Roosevelt ran third
with So5,230 popular votes as against
647,6S5 for President Hoover and the
formers plurality is 157,545.