The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-01-05
M'NUTT FORCES
FACE REVOLT IN
new ASSEMBLY
Lack of Patronage, Sturdier
Opposition by G. 0. P.
Are HandiCapS.
BY JAMES DOSS
Times Stan Writer

Lacking the prospect of lucrative
appointments as an incentive. the
1885 Indiana General Assembly may
not submit to the cracking of the
administration whip with the same
celebrity as that shown by the 1888
legislature.
There are several indications that
the administration program may be
in for harder going this year.
First Of all. the Republican mi
nority is a far more potent factor.
It's much larger, and most political
observers believe that its leader
ship is much more capable.
Ruled With Firm Hand
During the 1888 session, the tiny
Republican minority might rage i'm
potently and then cast its vote SOL
idly against an administration prof.
ect, but that's all there was to it.
The administration had the power
to suspend the rules and, in gen.
eral, do just about as it pleased.
Gov. Paul V. McNutt and his leg
iSlative outriders had the necessary
sheer power and, if the rumblingS
of discomfort among the Democratic
majority grew above whisper, there
always was some way to fix things
up with patronage promises.
More than a score of Representa-
tives and Senators, significantly or
not, were given more or less i'm
portant StatehouSe posts after the
session.
Pleas Put on Spot
This year, however, there aren't
all those jobs to dispense, which puts
Pleas Greenlee, the Governors pa
tronage dispenser, in somewhat Of a
tough spot.
Thus, with the prospect of per-
Sonal reward not as appealing as it
was in 1888 when the administration
had more to offer, the Democratic
members of the 1885 Assembly can
afford to be little more sensitive
than their predecessors.
The 1888 legislature, notably the
House, has been termed "the most
spinelesS legislature in Indiana's
history" Nobody likes to be called
spinelesS, of all things, and some
members of the new Assembly are
showing a somewhat FESTIVE attitude
IN advance.
Stein Selection Resented
AS one new member of the house
puts it: I'm if I'm going to do
just exactly what I'm told because
I'm a Democrat"
There was some discomfort when
the Democrats caucused early in
December and then decided on
Senator Jacob Weiss, Indianapolis,
as President Pro Tenn. of the upper
house, and Rep. Edward H. Stein,
Bloomfield, for Speaker of the
House.
The caucus, of course, is not
binding, because the heads of the
two Houses must be elected on the
first day of the session. The dis
content apparently was directed al
most entirely by the Stein choice,
rather than at SENATE Weiss and
there were threats that Rep. Stein
might be "unseated" when the
House convenes.
Reisinger Leads Revolt
The abortive revolt against Rep.
Stein is being led by Rep. Jacob
Reisinger, Evansville, who has tried
to enlist the Republican minority.
The administration does not take
his efforts seriously.
With administration leaders al
most sure to be at the head of both
Houses, the administration program
apparently is not endangered.
However, lacking the power to
suspend the House rules, confronted
with a larger Republican minority
led by the perspicacious James M.
Knapp, Hagerstown, as floor leader,
and with the possibility of some re-
bellion in Democratic ranks, the
Governors advisers will have to pro-
coed cautiously, to sly the least.
Girl Scouts Will Entertain
I'll