The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-08-31
Owners Influence May Bring
About Alteration of Papers
Policy Toward Republican
Candidates for Office.
BARNARD IN CONFERENCES
WITH FOULKE AND GORDON
James E. Watson to Benefit as
Paper HAS Fought Him
Party NotabIes Are Con-
cerned in Any Change.

More startling than anything in con-
inection with the republican newspaper
world of the Sixth district is expected
to appear in the columns of the Rich
mond Item, when that paper openly
comes out in support of Judge William
-O Barnard, of New Castle, republican
candidate for congress.
Announcement of the Items support
us being delayed temporarily pending
the result of a conference between Will
liam Dudley Foulke and Judge Bar
nard, which will be held at the Foullke
home tomorrow evening.
Furthermore, the Items editorial
policy In regard to the republican state
ticket is expected to receive alteration.
1t Is almost reality that the paper
will cease it's vituperative comment up
on the personality of James E. Watson,
republican candidate for governor, and
come out in favor of the issues of the
party regardless of the personalities
of it's candidates.
William Dudley Foulke and his con-
nections own the controlling interest
in The Item. That Judge Barnard
should come to this city as the guest
of Mr.. Foulke, be entertained at his
nome and hold a conference upon mat
ters political, is given significance by
everyone acquainted with the circum-
stances.
Mr.. Foulke, in an interview printed
in this paper last week, declared the
independent voters should support the
republican ticket as q whole this year,
rather than the democratic ticket. Mr..
Foulke's publication has been open
and aggressive in its attacks upon
Watson. Mr.. Foulke advises it is bet
ter to swallow the republican hook.
even if it carries Watson bait.
The editorial policy of the Item, di-
rected by J. Bennett Gordon, the man
aging editor, has been antagonistic to
Watson and likewise to Barnard. Cor
don led the forces in this city that
were antagonistic to Barnard at the
Shelbyville convention. He did every
thing within his power to send a
Wayne county delegation to this con-
vention that would oppose Barnard to
the end. He worked to secure dele
gates who would pledge themselves to
this stand. But they lost.
Barnard has claimed Gordon misun-
derstands him. The two were in con-
ference in this city Saturday evening
and Barnard went to his home with
the impression he will receive the sup
port of The Item. Barnard has been
unhesitating in his assertion he favors
the policies of President Roosevelt, as
reflected in William H. Taft, the re-
publican nominee for president.
Barnard made his declaration semi
public in an address perore a meeting
of the republican committeeman in this
city and the local newspapers carried
the story.
There is a probability his statements
at that time may have convinced the
managing editor of The Item of the
speakers consistency and intention, SO
that he has thrown away the coat OF
suspicion and shield of opposition he
has worn ever since the first an
nouncement OF Barnard's candidacy for
congress.
For some weeks politicians of the
state have been asking why Mr.. Foulke
did not bring his influence to bear on
the editor OF his paper and stop the at
tacks on Watson. Mr.. Foulke has
been In communication or consultation
with President Roosevelt, William H
Taft and Frank Hitchcock. He is q
personal and Intimate friend and con
fident of the president He is one OF
the most prominent independent pol,
iticians of the country. Why, then
the question Is. should he permit the
paper which he controls financially. to
antagonize the interests of the candi.
dates his influential friends hope to
elect
He Is expected to acquiesce and for
the remainder of the campaign The
Item may be found supporting the re-
publican national state and distric,
ticket as unit.