The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-15
Each One Pledged to Secure
Votes for Thomas R. Mar
shall, Candidate for Gov
ernor.
REPUBLICAN SALOON
MEN BOLT PARTY.
FIoaters Instructed How to
Mark Ballot for Marshall
Saloons Against Party in
Power.
(By Harper.)

Has the democratic organization in
Wayne county turned over the work
of conducting the present political
campaign to the saloon keepers, brew |
ers and their allies? The question
gives promise of none but an affirm
atiye answer. Charles Beck, county
democratic chairman. is clean man.
Nothing is to be said derogatory to MS
character. 1t is pre-eminently evident
however, that Chairman Beck's time
is required by his employment in
capacity other than conducting the
campaign.
The majority of the saloon keepers
in this city are men who have voted
the republican ticket in the past. But
these same men now are using every
influence they possess and straining
every nerve to promote the interests
of Thomas Marshall, the democratic
candidate for governor. They are
fighting for the life of their business.
They know temperance is one OF the
main issues being advocated by the
republicans in this campaign They
know Thomas Taggart, Albert Lieber
and Crawford Fairbanks, the three
most conspicuous democratic figures
boosting the campaign of Thomas
Marshall are engaged in the brewery
and distillery business. They know
that the majority of the saloons in In
diana Is owned or controlled by brew
cry interests. They know that the
men who operate these saloons in
many instances have not penny in
volved.
They know this, also. Unless they
fight the battles of this trio of brew
ers or gambling casino owners, their
own stock is liable to be cut off and
they must leave the business. No
where in this state is an attempt be-
ing made to dispute the fact that the
breweries and saloons are fighting
the battle for Thomas Marshall
against James E. Watson. The condi-
tion is acknowledged by the saloon
men of this city. And yet, when the
local saloonists are asked, they say
they, too, are fighting for their busi-
ness and that they are supporting
Marshall because he is the most
friendly to 1t.
Wayne county presents situation
wherein the republican saloonists ap-
pear more actively engaged in boom
ing the interests of the democratic
nominee than does the democratic or
ganization of the county. Practically
the same circumstances are to be
found prevailing In many other Sec
tions of the state.
Pledged to Get Votes.
T is not generally known to the
public that each saloon keeper in In
votes to Marshall at the coming elec-
ton. It is not known, but it is fact,
nevertheless. Sample ballots are kept
in the saloons and the voter, who the
saloonist counts upon for help, is call
ed into the back room and instructed
in the proper way to mark ballot to
insure a vote for Marshall. That rule
applied to Wayne county with about
sixty saloons would mean 800 votes
for Marshall secured solely through
the saloons as the intermediary.
This Is the situation confronting the
temperance element of the state and
loon business, who have been republi-
cans all their lives, are lined up with
the democrats this year. because the
republicans are standing for temper
ance. The complexity of the situation
does not appear to be understood
thoroughly by some disgruntled re-
publican voters who are holding an al
legged grievance against republican
candidates.
The saloon keepers of this city are
holding frequent meetings in the at
tempt to promote their fight. They
are outlining their plans and telling
the results of the preliminary work
They know the political leaning of
their customers and they are planning
to use their customers to accomplish
their purposes.
The man who enters a saloon, ord
ers his beer and tosses a nickel over
the counter, probably does not realize
that perhaps the very next man in
will be given his drink free. Free
drinks are included in the plan of cam
paign. The floating voter is to be Civ
en- drinks ION the house." According
to the announced plan, drinks alone
will not be the only inducement Of
fered. 1t is proposed to offer free
drinks and free lunches the day before
election day. The conclusion to be
reached from such a plan is very lim-
tied. All that beer and lunch is not
to be given away from a spirit OF
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