Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1919 — BUSH OPPOSED TO GOODRICH PLAN. [ARTICLE]

BUSH OPPOSED TO GOODRICH PLAN.

By Felix F. Bruner

' Indianapolis, Jan. 14.—There is a strong probability that the Goodrich centralization plan will not pass the legislature, at least in its entirety. It is certain that it will be the center of a strong party fight and may result in the breaking up of the Republican party in the legislature and the consistent defeat of administration measures*, as they come up. Since the firing of the opening shot in this battle by Lieut. Gov. Bueh in his speech opening the Senate, in which foe demanded that the people and not the chief executive, there has been a profound stir in Republican circles here. Bush’s speeclwvas a strong and of the long and ominous period of silence, during which Republican leaders spent most of their time in wonder ing what Bush was u|> to. They have now received their answer. A hint of what was coming was contained in Bush’s announcement that he would name his own committees and that he did not nf-e l the assistance of the Republican sta*e committee. This announcement was followed by an effort on the part of Republicans to patch r.n*ters up and make things right with Bush. They passed a resolution deciding not to name the committees. No one ever heard of a political committee openly naming legislative committees. Their efforts were vain, however, for Bush took his courage to the Senate with him and told the members of that body exactly what' ■he thought of the Idea of making the government of Indiana a oneman government. There were those who said Bush was not a blgr enough man to lead such a fight, but foe.

has shown these friends of the administration that they were wrong and that he, and not Gov. Goodrich, is the president of the Senate. The chief subject of discussion in legislative circles here is the Bush denunciattion and the effect it will have on the assembly. That Bush has his followers, especially in the power grab fight, there is no doubt. There is no doubt that these followers of Bush will make things warm for the Goodrich faction in the assembly. Only ten Republican votes added to the solid Democratic vote in the Senate would be necessary tto defeat the Goodrich scheme. It is altogether probable that the insurgent element will become this large. This element in the Senate believes with Lieut. Gov. Bush that the “spirit of encroachment must result in despotism.” . Bush’s terms were plain and to the point. He also pointed to the absorption of power on the part of the German government and declareu airy scheme to take away the rights of the people to govern to be kaiseristic. “The spirit of encroachment, with natural tendency to centralize and consolidate the powers of all departments in one, must inevitably result in despotism,” be said. The seemingly beneficial results, if any, are only transitory and can in no measure compensate for a breach once imade in the solid walls of our security. Fgr through this breach, the tyrant may enter as well as the benefactor.” ■