The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-06-24
JUDGE DARROCH
IS WELL LIKED
Lafayette's Mayor Is In Hammond
and Tells Times Representative
That Democrats Will Show Sur
prlsing Strength Next Fall at
the Elections.

There is considerable talk among the
democrats of Hammond and LIKE
county regarding the candidacy Of
Mayor Becker of Hammond for con-
gresham from the tenth district.
while Judge Darroch of KentInnd is nm
avowed candidate, Mayor Becker h,.
not yet Indicated that he would be will
Ing TO make the race, yet his friends
believe that he is about convinced that
he would have a chance to win md
that he would serve the party by per-
mftting his name to be used.
Judge w. w. Mcmahon, one of the
prominent democrats in this city. said
this morning that he had been trying
for several months to Induce Mayor
BECKER to enter the race. He said he
believed Becker would be the strong
est candidate that the party I'm this
district could select and that he would
have a chance 10 win.
Rhode for Judge Darroch.
John l. Rhode, another prominent
democrat, said. that Mayor Becker,s
name had been persfstently mentioned
Tor the honor, but he understood that
ne would not make the race IF
Becker decides to run, Of course
would support him. said the former
member OF the board of public works.
but until he enters the race I am for
Judge Darroch of Kentland. Darroch
made the ract last time when there
was not ghost of a show of his win
ming and now that there is a chance
l think he should be the party's can
didate"
Attorney John F. Reilly said he had
never heard Mayor Becker's name men
TONED as a candidate for the nomfna-
tfon but that was all he knew about
IL. Reilly said that Becker would un-
doubtedly make a good race and that
there is chance for his election,
Mayor Becker Is influential.
Mayor Becker is acknowledged to
be one of the strongest members Of
the party in the district His infiu- |
ence was felt when he represented the
opposition to ]. Kirby Risk in this part
OF the state during the recent con-
vention when Urey Jackson was Sc |
lected as state chairman of the demo- |
cratic party.
Local democrats are not very enthus
iastic over the candidacy of Judge Dar-
roch and they would welcome a chance
to get out and fight for the Hammond
man. In fact, it is generally prohpe-
sled that Darroch could not win a
single extra vote in the district, while
1t is believed Becker could
The local democrats believe that a
democrat has a better chance to win
this year than at any time in the re-
cent history Of the district. They point
out the fact that the salooon question
is to be the great issue in the district
as well as the state.
His Election Might BE Possible.
Ordinarily 1t would not be presumed
that a state issue would make any
dinerence in district politics, but the
democrats say that 1t is hard to tell
what fickle citizenship will do and
It is possible that there would be a
combination of circumstances which
make Becker's election possible.
Mayor Durgan OF Lafayette was in
hammond this morning on his way to
Lafayette to attend the meeting of the
indiana League of Municipalities. and
ne was asked by a representative of
The TIMES what he thought OF the
chances for a democratic victory this
rear.
The mayor said he thought the
democrats in the state would show
surprising amount of strength In the
coming election, but he admitted that
n both the state and the district thew
would have to overcome large matorf- ..
les.
Mayor Durgan said that he was a ,
emocrat and admitted that this fact
night account for some of his optim- !
SIN.
1t is understood that Mayor Recker
Viii not announce his candidacy for
ONE time to come, as there is lo+s .
1 time before the democratic congress )
lonal convention. which is not to be :
Ieid until July 27, but Mr.. Becker ,s !,
ooked upon as a mighty valuable man !
hold In reserve and when the time
ONES things may shape themselves 7
round so that he will be the logical :
andidate.