Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 8, Number 32, DeMotte, Jasper County, 7 July 1938 — Now ... [ARTICLE]

Now ...

By CARL OGLE

If the people pf this state will just use a little persistence, they can prevent the construction of that proposed $3,000,0q0 palace that has been designed by Gov. M. Clifford Townsend to house the overflow of state employees who can not now be accommodated in the half dozen office buildings that the state is using. Several weeks ago, when Governor Townsend made hijs first announcement to the effect that he might call a special session of jthe legislature, he said that, among j>ther things, the appropriation of the money for the office building, wasj one of the purposes. I A state of protect came from all parts of the state. A great many Hoosiers felt that the state has too many employees ntrW—and they also felt that if the number were cut the state might have sufficient room in the buildings it now has. The Governor became so jittery over (he situation —(ogether with the rumor that the Republicans might postpone their convention until later the legislative session—that he announced that the session might not be held at all. Of course, immediately after the Republican convention was over, he made another announcement that he would call a special session of the General Assembly—but he indicated^ that he might not build the office building. So if the people >lvill just protest a little while longer! they can win. The Governor scares rather easily. In fact, almost any old rumor will scare him. Plant just a little gossip in the quarter and he can be frightened into doing anything—ojr nothing. For instance, talkin about the Governor’s attacks of fright,j just a rumor and gossip has! caused himeto decide that he may give United States VanNuys the “go-sign” of the Democratic party. Actually, you know, there was no real reason for the break between Senator VanNuys and Gov, Townsend in the first place. VanNuys has only voted against one of the important government measures—the Supreme court bill. He I failed to vote on the President's re-drganization or dictatorial bill. He vojted for everything else that the President wanted and has boasted abou| it. The only reason that he and Gov. Townsend haven't gotten together is that the Governor read Senator VanNuys out oJ the party to please jthe President. Then President Roosevelt, who had been cheering Gov. ToHvnsend in the latter’s attack on VanNuys, suffered a couple of defeats—[one in lowa, one in Pennsylvania—and he decided that maybe he didn’t w int to get rid of Senator VanNuys bilf as bad as he thought he did. Thjat left Town