100 Years Ago: Feb. 21-26

From The Indianapolis Times, Friday, February 27, 1925: Because of promises by Republican political boss D. C. Stephenson, Indiana Democratic state senators are back in their seats after bolting to Dayton, Ohio over a gerrymander bill that would have made the second Congressional District safely Republican. Their action denied a senate quorum and left hanging pet measures backed by the Ku Klux Klan. If the Democratic senators remained on strike and the legislative session adjourned sine die on Monday, March 9, and a special session had to be called to pass the appropriation bill, the Klan leadership saw little chance of getting its legislative program through. Stephenson promised the Democrats immunity from arrest for bolting and killing of the gerrymander bill, which Lieutenant Governor Van Orman in a signed telegram confirmed he would “do everything in his power” to defeat.