Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1908 — "BOOSTERS" IN TOWN [ARTICLE]

"BOOSTERS" IN TOWN

State Capital Invaded by an Army of Men Who “Want County Local Option.” THEY SWARM IN THE CAPITOI Bracing Up the “AVabbler*” and So Forth—Harrison Monument To Be L'nveiled Oct. 27. Indianapolis. Sept. 22.—The fight over county local option was expected to open in earnest in the senate yesterday afternoon, with the submission of a report by the committee on public morals. Owing to difficulty In choosing between the Anti-Saloon League bill with the dual option feature and Senator Mattingly’s strictly county option bill the committee was not ready to report when the senate met at 2 p. m., and the senate, by a party vote, with the Democrats in opposition, took a recess of thirty minutes. Committee Blow in Reporting. The recess was for the purpose of allowing the conimittee to report favoring both bills. It, was known that Senators Bingham and Moss, Democrats, would make a minority report favoring the indefinite postponement on both bills. The senate, on reconvening at 2:30. took another recess. The county option fight was not expected to cornc up in the house, where the R» publicans were waiting for the senate to act first. Representative Pierson, temperance Democrat introduced a state wide prohibition bill. Representative Cobe. Democrat introduced a bank deposit guaranty bill. “We Want County Local Option.** Hundreds of ministers and other champions of county local option poured into Indianapolis from all parts of the state and nearlly swamped the session of the legislature. They made the day unique in the history of Indiana’s law-making l>ody, for the lawmakers’ when they convened found themselves surrounded by u solid mass of men. each decorated with a white ribbon that bore the words, “We Want County Local Option.” This was true of both houses, though the greater number could be found in and about the lower house, the one :n which there Is doubt of the passage of tne bill the visitors wish.

They Called It “Home Folk* Day.” “Home folks’ day,” as this moral suasion effort has become termed, proved a spectacular event for the legislature. The delegations of whiteribbon wearers were taking every means to make their presence appro dated Songs aud yells kept the- corridors of the state house ringing from 9 111 the morning and attempts to carry on the state’s business had almost to be abandoned When not shouting and singing encouragement of the friends of the temperance bill the delegations kept themselves busy on the trail of their own representatives In tie legjs’a-'ni-o The demonstration was arranged—largely by the Antl-Sa-Tobu League—‘for the express benefit of the wabbly ones. And the wabbly ones were getting the benefit