The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-25
No Statement Made as to Why
The Organization Black
listed Candidates of Both
Parties.
RATLIFF Is ALL O. K.
NOW SAYS BALLENGER.
All Other Acts Can Be Over
looked Because He Voted
For County Option, Secre-
tary Claims.

II do not feel that have any author
ity to offer an explanation why the
Wayne County Civic League did not
recommend to the voters of this county
the lection of Messrs. Ladd, Beeson
and Farlow on the Republican county
ticket, and Messrs. Druley, Cook and
Stevens on the Democratic county
ticket; neither do / feel that l have
the authority to state why the league
failed to advance any arguments to the
voters, why they should not vote for
the candidates have mentioned. There
are still ten days remaining of the
campaign, and there is time for the
league to make public explanation why
1t does not think the six candidates in
question are qualified to hold Office, and
it is quite probable that the league
will take such action"
The above statement was made yes
terday by George Ballenger, secretary
of the Wayne County Civic League. He
was interviewed on the suggestion OF
thexRev r. ]. Wade, that he was the
proper officer of the league to explain
the action taken by that organization.
The Rev. Wade has stated to the
Palladium that in his opinion, the
league made mistake in recommend
ing to the voters that they not sup
port the six "black-listed' candidates,
and giving the voters no reasons why
they should not support them.
.fo hot he
thought the league in the statement it
made to the public should have told
why the voters should support the can
didates endorsed by the organization.
Difficult to Explain.
After making this statement, Mr..
Wade remarked that probably one of
the reasons why the league offered no
explanation for Establishing six
candidates, or for endorsing the others
was because Walter S. Ratliff was one
OF the candidates approved by the or
ganization. 1T would probably be
rather difficult for the league to ad-
vance any reasons why the voters
should support Mr. Ratliff," dryly re-
marked Mr.. Wade.
Mr.. Balienger spoke in defense of
Mr.. Ratliff He said it was true that
Mr.. Ratliff's record in the legislature
had not been the best, but, that during
the special session last month he had
voted fright" on the county local OPP
ton bill, and that the good citizens"
OF Wayne county should support him
for reelection for that reason. Mr..
Ballenger stated that the support of
the Civic League was given as an en-
enlargement to Mr., Ratliff in his re-
solve to turn over new leaf.'
Ministers Should Keep Out.
The membership of the Wayne Coun-
ty Civic League is composed princi-
pally of local ministers. Zest to the
excitement raised by the league by his
sensational debute into local politics,
has been added by the statement made
by the Rev. Robert II. Dunaway, that
he thinks ministers should quite med
ding so much in politics.
Sunday my sermon will be on that
subject" stated Mr.. Dunaway, who is
pastor Of the Second Presbyterian
Dunaway stated that he thought min
listers If they wanted to mix up with
politics should resign from the minis
try. Ministers who continually dab
BILE in politics and other matters that
do not concern them unfit themselves
for the ministry" asserts Mr. Dun
away, who states that he declined to
serve on the board Of directors of the
Wayne County Civic League.