The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-05-09

! It is reported among the leading re-
lpublicans of, Hammond today that by
the retention of Pete L. Davis on the
board of public works Mayor Becker
secured the promise of the one hundred
and fifty republicans, who petitioned
for his appointment, that they would
vote the democratic ticket in the COM
| ing county elections.
| 1t has been commonly asserted that
when Mayor Becker made the public
statement that he would make a COM
plete change in the personel Of the
board of public works at the first of
this year he intended to appoint in the
place of Messrs Rohde, Krost and
Davis; Messrs SchIoer, Ebert and Bick-
nell.
Many Excuses for Delay.
This understanding was so thorough
that when the first of the year came
and the appointments were not made
the three disgrunted office holders got
together. and talked the matter over.
There were various excuses made for
the delay and finally when the new ap-
pointments were made it was dis
covered that Schloer and Ebert came
under the wire winners while Bicknell,
also ran
Some surprise has been expressed
when 1t was learned that Bicknell had
been turned down and that Pete Davis,
whose republicanism had been ques
toned, was continued in Office in spite
of the reputed declaration of the mayor
that he would change the whole board.
But the redoubtable Davis besides doing
good work on the board of public works
had the bulge on the chief executive.
Republicans began inquiring into the
matter. Some of them found that the
excuse Mayor Becker gave Henry Btck-
nell for not giving him the appointment
was that the labor unions wanted
Davis. It was also learned that pc
tition had been signed by $50 repub-
llicans, friends of Mr.. Davis, who asked
that he be appointed.
Makes Petition Merely a Subterfuge.
IF this petition, had been repre-
sentative of the party" says a Ham
mond republican, "as a whole there
could have been no objection on the
part of the leaders of the party to the
mayors action. AS it was the petition
was merely a subterfuge, an excuse
for taking an action that was thought
to be politically expedient,"
leaders began to investigate as to
where this expediency lay. When the
petition was presented to Mayor Becker
he is reported to have said, Gentle
men, what can you do for us?" That
meant but one thing. A township,
county state and national election is
at hand. 1t appears to the democrats
that they have a better chance in In
diana this year than ever before. In
diana is a pivotal state. Lake county
is an important county. The politician
who can swing this county and this
district for a winning democracy will
sit near the throne at Indianapolis.
A Significant Question.
| That is the Significance of Gentle
men. what can you do for us?" The
proposition coming from democrat
to a republican was a startling one.
The one hundred and fifty were com
PEELED to scratch their heads before
they could answer.
The men who control these "one
hundred and fifty were once the lead
| ers of their party. This year their
strength has yet to be reckoned with.
| They have been prophesying repub-
nean defeat. They are claiming that
the leadership of the party in Lake
county is in incompetent hands. They
are of the opinion that the cards are
stacked against the party. any way, and
they want the blame for Eosible de-
feat to rest on other shoulders If the
party under leadership. not OF them.
is falling they propose to give It a