Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1917 — DRY CHANCES HINGE ON CHAMBERS’ PROPOSAL [ARTICLE]

DRY CHANCES HINGE ON CHAMBERS’ PROPOSAL

So Say the Democrats, Who Will Support Bill If Amendment Is Added , —Looks Like Party Move. ~ " The enactment of the state-wide prohibition bill was assured Wednesday night through the action of the democratic members of the* senate, who caucused until midnight and Shall y reached an agreement that is satisfactory to thos§ who participated. The terms of the agreement may not be entirely satisfactory to the temperance forces as a whole, but at present it appears that they must.be content. The course of action that it to be pursued is* as follows: An amendment will ibe prepared providing that the law shall (become effective December 31, 1918, instead of January 1, 1918. The Chambers amendment will restore to druggists provision to the same form as when the bill was originally introduced, prohibiting the sate of “vinous and spiritual” liquors by druggists. A committee of five has been appointed to draft the amendment and to the support of these amendments is pledged the solid support of the twenty-five democratic senators. With the support which will be available from republican the adoption of the amendment is assured-With the adoption of the amendment the passage of the prohibition law is guaranteed by the democrats,. Not all of the democratic members writ vote for the prohibition bill on its final passage, but enough of them will do so to insure its safety. The caucus action precludes the possibility of the plan going awry, as every democratic senator is bound to do so by virtue Of a gentleman’s agreement. This will delay the law becoming effective until after the election in 1918, and thereby the democrats hope to gain some party advantage. Leaders in the legislature assert that the Chambers amendment will be concurred in by the house and that, if the bill passes, it: wilt-be thrown into the hands of. a conference committee of the two houses. There was also a question whether the house would agree to an extension of time fixed for the measure to become active, if enacted, anti it was asserted bv some that the house would not agree to any date (beyond June 1, 1918, if they would extend it that

long. .. Indiana is to have her constitutional convention. The senate Wednesday afternoon passed the McGonagle bill by a vote of 34 to 14. The bill now goes to -the governor for signature. It provides for the selection of delegates on the non-partisan tickets, for a purpose of framing a new basic law for the state, There will be elected 115 delegates, one from each, district of the state, and fifteen at Urge.