The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-06-23
"BiII" and slim" Clubs viii Be
Organized Over Indiana Un-
der Direction of the State
Committee.
BREWERY CASES NOW
ATTRACTING ATTENTION
Whatever the Decision of the
Superior Court on Merits of
Bingham's Fight, There Will
Be an Appeal.

indianapolis, Ind, June 23.-If there
are any "Jims' or Bills" in Richmond
or both for that matter, they are going
to be in demand for the coming polit-
ical campaign, provided they bear the
republican stamp. OF course, there is
Bill" Bryan, and there may be a
Jack" or a Tom at the end of his
presidential kite before the Denver
shall have finished, but the
nickname fad will probably be used
up by the republicans before the demo
Gratis can get into action, and far be it
from the democracy to copy after the
sommon enemy in anything.
At the republican state executive
in Indianapolis soon, the
nickname proposition will be aired.
The committee will nave before it
suggestion that Sunny Jim" Sherman
and Smiling Bill' Taft clubs be organ
zed throughout Indiana in order that
the campaign. may be enlivened by
little humor that can do no harm and
may bring about lot of good in the
way of enthusiasm. Old campaigners
agree that it is going to be a difficult
matter to work up organization enthu-
siasm this summer, and it is hoped
that the nickname plan will catch on.
And so, there will be a special demand
for Bills" and "Jims," as it is propos-
ed to make use of these as charter
members of political clubs. There is
little doubt that the committee will fall
in with the scheme. as it is considered
sufficiently novel to attract, and there
fore sure to prove effective.
Organizers are to be sent over the
state, according to the plans as now
formulated. and they will be furnished
with sufficient funds to cover all ini-
tial expenses of organizing. Once or
ganized, it is expected that the clubs
will show sufficient pride in the cause
to continue the life of the organization
through the campaign. These organ
izers are to be carefully selected, not
with their political enthusiasm as their
chief asset, but rather their sbility as
organizers. That they be repu blicans
is to be necessary, but secondary mat
ter.
Fight Over Saloons.
Now that politics has taken second
place for time, there is opportunity
for considering other things of import
ance, and one of these is the fight of
the state on brewery ?owned saloons.
The latest phase of the cause is now in
the hands of the superior court, and
whatever happens. there is to be an ap-
peal to the higher courts and a thor
ough try-out of the position taken by
the state. The encouragement ar
gues that every brewery in the state
and all are guilty-which has gone on
the bond of saloonkeeper or backed
him in the obtaining Of license or the
operation of a saloon, has violated its
charter and gone entirely outside the
privileges permitted under their char
tiers. Lawyers who have watched the
case closely are predicting that the at
torney general will win, but there are
not many, perhaps, who have stopped
to consider what such an outcome
would mean. If the courts hold that
the breweries must live and operate
strictly within the wording of their
charters, $500 saloons will be wiped
out of existence in Indiana at one
stroke. In Indianapolis, FIT Wayne,
Evansville, Terre Haute and other cit
les, where breweries are in operation,
the practice of breweries furnishing
the money for saloonkeepers to begin
and to continue in business on. is gen.
eral, and it is these cities that will be
hit the hardest. In Indianapolis
alone, close to 125 saloons would be
affected, it is said. If there is any
other angle at which the saloon can be
fought it has not yet been found, for
the saloon is certainly travelling a
rocky road in Indiana and is having an
awful struggle for existence.
There was a forcible example of the
fight on saloons during the national
saengerfest here last week. The fair
grounds, where the concerts were held,
are in a dry township just outside In
dianapolis. and the thousands of Ger
mans and others who attended, found,
to their disappointment. that no beer
or other liquor was sold on the
grounds. Inquiries brought the re-
ply: "Oh, this is dry township out
here" 1t was, perhaps. the first time
that it was impressed on the people of
Indianapolis as to just what the word
dry means as applied to the selling
Of liquor, for the township in question
went dry" by remonstrance only Q
tev weeks aSA -