The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-03-30
Four Men VIII Receive Guber-
material Nomination if Man.
ayers Claims Are Not Given
a Setback.
HANLY'S INFLUENCE A
MATTER OF SOME DOUBT
Governor Has Written Dele
gates Asking Them to Stand
for Reforms He Has Inaugu-
rated.

indianapolis, Ind. March s0.-The
deck is being cleared here for the re
publican state convention Wednesday
and Thursday, when one of the most
Interesting contests for the nomination
for governor within the memory OF
the present generation Of Indiana pol
iticians will be settled.
If the statements of the managers
of the various candidates are to be be-
lieved four men will receive the nom
ination for governor. The veteran
John X. Gowdy. who has been through
many hard fought political battles,
says that Representative James +.
Watson of -2ushville, will be nominal
ed very early in the convention.
From the camp of Charles w. Mil
Ter, of Goshen, comes the declaration
of Wilson ROo8e and others engaged in
the management of his campaign, that
Miller will win and that he will lead
on every ballot.
Oliver Ensley, Seventh district
chairman, who is in charge Of VIM. l..
Taylor's interests. says that Taylor is
in position to win on the third or
fourth ballot and that he will come
through with the nomination if his
friends stand together.
Leu,ena Governor Huh Th. Miller
of Columbus, humorously declares
that he will have IL majority of the
votes on the last ballot, which means
that he has a rosy view of his own
chances.
So intense is the feeling among the
followers of the candidates that it is
difficult to make Il forecast without
being accused of unfairness. The
Watson men will not concede that the
Goshen Miller has a chance. On the
other hand. the Goshen Miller's lieu
tenants assert that Watson never
will have a look in"
The game that has been played by
all of Watson's opponents during the
last three months was to elect enough
dele gates TO prevent his nomination
on the first or second ballot. That
done. they felt that they accomplish
ed his defeat, as for some reason they
declare that Watson's followers won't
stand hitched as long as theirs.
Interest Pooled.
IN order to carry out this plan the
Goshen Miller and Taylor have pooled
their interests in many counties In
a few places they have had the sup
port of Lieutenant Governor Miller's
friends. The election of pronounced
anti-Watson delegates, who will hold
out against him in the face of STAN
pede. has been the object of the COM
bination.
]. 1t is not known at this time how
successful it has been. Captain Gowdy
declares that Watson's friends have
elected enough delegates to nominate
him. but the same statement is being
made at the Goshen Miller's headouar-
ters. 1t Is not claimed by the follow
ers of Taylor and the Lieutenant gov
ernor that they have enough votes
now to win. Their hope is that there
will be a deadlock between the Gosh
en- Miller and Watson that they will
give them their opportunity.
Watson is Strong.
The outlook now is that Watson
will go into the convention with more
strength than either of his opponents.
and that he will have a good lead on
the first ballot However. so many
elements may enter into the contest
during the next five days as to cause
shifting of positions.
Watson's lieutenants have learned
during the past week that the Goshen
Miller's followers are going into many
strong Beveridge counties that have
elected Watson delegates with the
statement that if Watson is nominal
ed he will be a candidate for the SEN
ate two years from now
The object of this attack. it is said,
is to alarm Senator Reveridge's fol-
lowers so that they will take a strong
stand against Watson. The latter,
however, has declared repeatedly
throughout the canvass that he will
not be candidate for the senate. and
that if he is nominated and elected
governor he will serve throughout his
term.
The main fight, ii seems. is between
the Goshen Miller and Watson. The
chances are Taylor will be a GOOD
third on the first ballot, as he will re-
ceive 141 votes from his county, in
addition to a fair representation from
other localities where he Is popular.
The lieutenant governors strength is
problematical
Hanly's Influence
There is considerable speculation as
to what influence Governor Hanly will
exercise over the convention. Much
surprise was caused last week when it
was learned that the Governor had
written personal letters TO the dele
gates urging them TO stand for the re-
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