The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-11-29
Quarrel Over the Senatorship
May Be Responsible for
Weak Fight Against Option
Elections.
BREWERS MEET NEXT
MONTH TO PLAN WARFARE
Will Be Satisfied if Democrats
Stand on Platform and Sub
stitute Township and Ward
Option.
BY Ellis SearIes.


Indianapolis, Ind. Nov. 2S.-The
brewers of Indiana are awake to the
fact that they are about to have the
fight of their lives. both in the legis-
lature and at the polls of county local
option elections. They are to hold
meeting next month to consider these
matters and to make preparations to
face the crisis that stares them in the
face. Just where this meeting will
be held is not yet announced, but the
meetings of the Indiana brewers are
usually held in Chicago.
There was talk about town today
that dissention has broken out among
the brewers over the senatorship. and
that treachery in the camp is feared.
The charge is that Albert Lieber, of
this city, and Crawford Fairbanks, of
Terre Haute, have formed an alliance
against Stephen B. Fleming, of Fort
Wayne, and that they are not playing
fair with Fleming in the senatorial
fight. Fleming is the chief backer of
Edward G. Hoffman, of Fort Wayne,
who is one of the many senatorial can
didates. 1t is known, too, that Lieb-
er and Fairbanks have not warmed up
to Hoffman's candidacy. Just who
they are supporting is not made pub
lie. but it is said that Fairbanks is for
John E. Lamb of Terre Haute, and
that Lieber is for John w. Kern. But
1t is believed that both will land in
the Kern lineup before the time comes
to show their hands.
Fleming is fighting Hoffmans bat
tie alone. as far as the brewery inter
ests are concerned. he being the only
brewer that is supporting him. But
Fleming is a match for any of them
when it comes to playing real politics.
The story today is that Fleming
learned that Lieber and Fairbanks are
trying to slip one over on him." and
that he came to indianapolis at a gal
| lop as soon as he heard it. 1t is said
he found that the other brewers were
arranging to hold a meeting to consid-
er the senatorship and other things in
| which they are interested. and that all
| this was to be done without his knowl-
edge. In fact. that he was not to
| mad, so it is said. and he started for
| Indianapolis at once. Here he met
! Fairbanks and Lieber and had talk
| with them, but what passed between
them is not known to any except the
| three. 1t was noticed, however, before
| Fleming left for home that he did not
know anything about the meeting that
is to be held. When he was asked
| whether the brewers would hold a
| meeting. he said he did not know a
| thing about it. He did not know
| when or where the meeting would be
held if held at all In fact, the whole
| business seemed news to him. But AL
| bert Lieber, a short time before, told a
newspaper man that the brewers will
meet next month. probbly the latter
| part. But he said he did not know
where the brewers will get together.
This, it is suspected is being kept quiet
in order that Fleming will not find
out the meeting place.
To Lay Plans for Fight.
Lieber said the brewers will discuss
the senatorship and numerous other
subjects. He did not say they would
| talk about local option elections, but
| they will. just the same. and they will
| lay their plans for the campaign. They
must either do this and win the elec-
tions or their business is going to be
all shot to pieces.
| On the subject of the county local
| option law and its possible repeal BY
the legislature at the coming session
Lieber said that the brewers will be
| perfectly satisfied If the democrats
| will merely stand on the state platform
and do what the party said it would
do This, of course, means the sub
stitution of the township and ward To-
cal option for the present county op
tion law.
| Wabash county is to be in the spot
light now for while as plans are be
ing made there TO hold county local
option election. 1t may be the frs,
in the state. A meeting called by the
ministers was held there Friday anc
1t was decided to circulate the petition
at once. These are the things thai
are causing the brewers to sit ur
| nights. and these are the things thai
they will talk over when they meet in
Chicago
But if they become separated into
factions, the brewers are sure to suf
fer, for they will need all theil
strength in the fight against the TEN
perancs people at the polls.