Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 February 1911 — PROCTOR MEASURE PASSES IN DISGRACEFUL SCENE. [ARTICLE]

PROCTOR MEASURE PASSES IN DISGRACEFUL SCENE.

Representative Keegan Hurls Slur That Has No Equal in Shameful* ness in History of State. The Proctor regulative and "restrictive measure passed the house Monday and the .Indiana assembly was never nearer a pitched fight , than it was on that occasion. Thirty-six amendments were passed since the bill left the senate and most of them make it more disgraceful than it was when Proctor introduced it. Probably no legislature in the United States ever tolerated so mean a slur as that cast by Representative Keegan, a democrat, of Indianapolis, who, in the most outrageous manner, cadt an insult against the honesty and sincerity of every republican in the house. His action was cowardly in the extreme, for after making a charge ,of grave importance he refused to state the name of a single person who' might be guilty of the conduct with which he impunged all republican legislators. As members voted on the Proctor bill many explained their vote. Keegan declared that there was “no hipocracy” about his attitude and said there are “gentlemen on the other side who feed all night on highballs and come in here the next morning and preach temperance.”

At this juncture Representative Eschbach, republican floor leader, jumped to his feet on a “question of personal privilege.” He turned savagely on Keegan and asked if he referred to the gentleman from Kosciusko, meaning himself. Keegan replied, “If it fits, I do.” “If you refer to me,” said Eschbach, “you tell an absolute falsehood.” And again Keegan replied, “I refer to anybody it fits.”

Practically every republican in the house arose and made a deurand that Keegan have the courage and honesty to name the person or persons that might be guilty of such conduct. “Name the man," “Name the man,” came from all quarters of the house. Several republicans moved . toward Keegan, who, sheep-like, grew palid and his every manner spoke of his shamelessness. Several democrats gathered around him as if to protect him from the assault that looked so Imminent. Speaker Veneman was rapping loudly for order. Finally when the speaker could make himself heard he demanded that “the speaker from Marion shall not be personal in his remarks.”

A moment later when Representative Maddox explained his vote he said “Shame on the man who charges a churchman with drinking highballs. If the gentleman from Marion had said

that to me, we would have cqme, together instantly.” Representative berry, of Wabash county, in explaining his vote, said, “Every amendment for the benefit of the people has been voted down.” An effort was made by him to talk further but catcalls and disgraceful from the democratic side of the house made it impossible for him to make himself heard. Representative Faris, republican, said that the bill has been so amended

that saloons are practically unrestricted. Representative Williams declared that the bill does not regulate saloons at all. M

The Proctor measure provides that in cities of the first and second class saloons can remain open until 12 o’clock at night. It also provides that! after the election polls are,closed the saloons may open up for business. These are some of the “restrictions" which constitute the Proctor regulative and restrictive measure. To the disgrace of the state, Keegan was able to make his contemptible slur against all temperance people in the house of representatives and was not compelled to public acknowledgement and withdrawal of hi* objectionable language. Republicans have scarcely been able to receive a respectful hearing at any time during the session, and good and respectable democrats all over the state are ashamed of the high-handed fashion in which some of the leaders have acted during the session. Representative Eschback said that he had served in the state legislature at the last four sessions and this was the first time he had ever seen brewers sitting on the floor of the house and directing the deliberations of that body.

Monday evening at 6:30 o’clock the senate passed the governor’s»new constitutional measure, whic.h makes sweeping changes in the organic law of the state. All democrats but Powers voted for it. All republicans and Powers voted against it. In explaining his vote Senator Powers said: “I feel it a duty I owe to the members of my party that I explain my position more explicitly in dissenting in this matter.” He declared his party was violating the provisions of the constitution, but because the party did, he did not feel impelled to do like wise. Continuing, Mr. Powers said:

“I think we might, with some consistency, before we act too hastily, listen to the voice of wisdom:

“In iB6O Stephen A. Douglas said: 'I understand it, that the views of the people expressed in the constitution must command the obedience of every citizen.’

"Senator Doolittle of the United States Senate of 1860, said: ‘The constitution is the supreme law, binding upon every citizen of the state. Can a state put an end to the supremacy of the constitution without proceeding according to the law?’ Why should vve act with so much haste?

“May we not take time to consider that five years were consumed in adopting and altering the articles of confederation, by such master minds as James,Madison and John Jay? And yet our State Senate would adopt* articles for a new constitution in less than a week.

“I have a conscientious feeling that the proposed attempt to make this constitution is untenable. The constitution of cur state can not be attacked collaterally. Neither can it be avoided in an indirect way. If our constitution, which we have maintained for fifty years, is wrong, then it can be amended. In support of this proposition, I desire to quote from John Quincy Adams, who said in 1835, ‘lf the constitution is wrong it can be amended. Until it is amended it is Sr my duty to follow it implicitly.’ ”