The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-08-23
TINES BUREAU
AT STATE CAPITAL.

Indianapolis, Ind, Aug. 23.-Although
this is supposed to be an off season in
state politics, nevertheless it is true
that active work is being done by the
republicans of Indiana in the direction
of effectng a close organization for
next years campaign. The leaders
seem determined to win next year. They
are strengthening the party lines in
the various districts in the state. so as
to not only elect the state ticket but
also to elect republican congressman
In a majority Of the districts as well.
People expect naturally that an off
year IN politics is real sure enough
off year, but In this they are mistaken
this time. The republicans of Indiana
learned few things last year, and
they seem now to be determined to
make good use of the lesson they
learned Last year, when the campaign
opened, the republicans felt secure in
their position because of the fact that
they had been in power for many years
in Indiana They thought, evidently,
that they could not be defeated. For
years the republican plurality in In
diana had ranged all the way from 30.-
coo to % 600, and it seemed next to i'm
possible for the opposition TO over
come this lead And you could not get
many republicans to admit that the
party was in any danger. But their
feeling of security was wrecked soon
after the campaign opened. The re
pubIicans found the democrats united
again. They found the democratic line
drawn tightly and that there was sure
to be a fight in earnest. But the re
publicans did not realize the serious
ness of the situation until it was too
| late to overcome the wave that was
| sweeping the state. They could not
stem the tide.
on the top of all Of this, the special
session of the legislature was called
and passed the county local option law.
! This drove many voters out of the re-
! publican ranks and into the lines of
! the democratic party-at least for the
| one election.
Taking everything into consideration,
the republicans last year had an OPP
Hill fight from start to finish, but they
did not know it until late in the game
The nomination Of Tom Marshall was
another OF the events that put the re-
pubIicans in hole. The democrats un-
doubtedly nominated the strongest man
for governor just at the time wher
the republicans were up against it the
worst.
The disaster that followed is we'll re
rcmbered Eleven democrats out o.
thirteen were elected to congress, some
o. them from districts which had beer
counted as inVincible republican. Ant
il is this fact that has caused the re
publcans to start in early to organic
the party and get things in shape t.
make a cleaning up at the election mex
year.
strong efforts axe to be made, espe
cially in the First. Fifth, Seventh
Ninth. Twelfth and Thirteenth district
to elect republicans to succeed the pres
ent democratic congressman. In tn
First district. John W. Boehne wa
elected by the democrats while he wa
still mayor Of Evansville and Their
does NOT seem to be any doubt but tina
this result vas due sole'y to he pas
saet Of tile local option law The sam
is nractfca " true of the Fifth, wher
Ralpn Mess. democrat. was elected I
J / ellccee.! Congressman Holsida! In tn
; seventh il ia difficult to figure out JUS
why the people elected Charles Korbl1
democrat, to succeed Congressma
Overstreet, who had been in congress
; for years and who had magnificent rec
ord Korbly is a lightweight.
The Ninth disteict elected Marti
> Morrison. Of Frankfort, democrat, I
succeed Congressman Charles B. Land
: IS. because Lands had become unpopu
lar with a large element of his part
J, on account Of his methods of maxim
e appointments.
q 1t Is not believed that the local OF
ton law had anything to do with tn
result in the Ninth district. But no
o shat Lands has been shelvel and is nj
!. likely to again be a candidate. INC pal
r t. in the Ninth is believed to be IN be-
ter shape than ever, aud that il wi
be able easily TO elect a rcpuolica
3 congressman next year to succeed Mo-
E rison.