Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1908 — PRESS COMMENT ON THE EXTRA SESSION [ARTICLE]

PRESS COMMENT ON THE EXTRA SESSION

Governor Hanly is going to give us a county local option law before the election! He says there is now a general demand for it, and he is right— Berne Witness. • * • The growth in popular favor of the plan of the Republican party to enact a county local option law Is such that most people in the state will welcome Its realization, whether in special or regular session of the legislature.— Middletown News. • • • The people over Hancock county are expressing their desire that a county local option hill be passed at the spedal session of the legislature. Such a bill will he the most popular measure ever passed in the state and will close saloons In eighty counties next year.— Greenfield Tribune. « * • The Republican members of the coming special session of the legislature will introduce and attempt to pass a county local option bill. Unless a few members of the majority prevent, such a measure will be made a law during tbe special session. The party stands for this measure and are anxious to meet what the party stands for at the first opportunity. It is to be hoped that the few Republican members who have declared themselves unwilling to pass such a law now will place greater ■tress upon the party’s platform than upon their Individual preference. Martinsville Reporter. • • • The important political question that Will be presented will be a county local option proposition, the leading state issue in the campaign. • It occurs to the Courier that the Republican members of the legislature, constituting a majority in both branches, have here an opportunity to settle that question In a way that must either force the Democrats to throw up their hands and acknowledge defeat or attack the law. The thing to do is to get together, perform the task set with expedition and dignity and rely upon the good Judgment of the people for approval.—Newcastle Courier. • • • If the legislature will meet, vote promptly upon all the subjects laid before it for consideration in the message of the governor, who takes the responsibility for the calling of the session and adjourn, all within a week at the outside, and especially if the county local option bill shall become a law, the brewery politicians who are now laughing up their sleeves at what they believe to be the hopeless predicament of the Republican party, will discover that in politics things are not always what they seem. Marion Chronicle. • • • There will be considerable differences in the opinion of voters of the state regarding the extra session of the general assembly. In the main progressive Republicans will stand by Governor Hanly as the best thing to do under the circumstances. The opportunity is open for the Republican party to show its sincerity regarding the platform on the county option plank, and should the legislature pass such a bill it would no doubt serve as a magnet to attract-all voters with advanced views favoring temperance legislation.—Waterloo Press. • • •

Governor Hanly has done a wise and courageous act -in calling a special session of the legislature. The Democrat leaders and a few Republicans bluster around and profess to be alarmed over the calling together of the law-makers at this time, but there is nothing to be frightened over. Both parties will introduce local option laws In conformity, doubtless, with the state platforms. No better time could be ohosen than on the eve of a campaign to settle this question. The sincerity of men and parties will be put to the test. The iron is hot and no more opportune time could have been chosen. Politicians may profess to be greatly ' disturbed over the special session, but the rank and file of the citizens of Indiana remain calm and undisturbed. The people have learned to trupt Governor Hanly.—Starke County Republican. If the preachers of the state should organise "Baas Drum Clubs," as Mr Marshall contemptuously suggested, there would be such a noise In Indiana that even the hills of French Lick ▼alley would echo and re-echo with the awful sound. Governor Hughes, it Beems, la not a very ardent admirer of Hon. Wil11am j. Bryan. ...