The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-01-17
Split-up in Ranks of Demo-
Gratis Is Threatened and
Kern's Backers May Sup
port Present County Law.
SHlvElY SUPPORTED By
LEADING BREWERY MEN
Kern Followers Are Sore at
Them for ''Butting In" and
It Is Reported a Neat Re-
venge Is Planned.
Palladium Bureau.
lndianapolis. Ian. l6

indianapolis, Jan. IS.
There is talk here to the effect that
the defeat of John w. Kern for Tin.
tied States senator will defeat the at
tempt to repeal the county local OPP
ton law. 1t has been understood right
from the start that the brewers of the
state were backing Benjamin F. Shive-
ly. the South Bend man who was
chosen senator by the democratic eau
Gus, and that Kern was not receiving
any brewery support. Now, 1t 10
claimed. many of the Kern men are
sore over his defeat. and to get even
with the brewers for butting in and
helping to defeat him. they will vote
against the repeal of the county option
law. II any considerable number Of
them take this stand the law can not
be repealed. for it is admitted that at
best the vote on tie proposition of re-
pealing 1t will be very close.
Brewers Fought Him.
1t is true that Kern numbered
among his supporters some Of the lib
eral element, but they were not brew.
ers. In the fight against him we're two
OF the largest brewers in the state.
Crawford Fairbanks. of Terre Haute,
and Senator Steve Fleming OF Fort
Wayne. Fairbanks was at FIRST sup
posed to be for John E. Lamb of Terre
Haute. but later changed his position
and came out for Shively. And after
the caucus had made its Nomination.
the Shively boomers returned to the
Denison hotel at 3 o'clock in the morn
ing they found Crawford Fairbanks
and Maurice Donnelly. his Indianapolis
manager there ready to receive them.
Fairbanks and Donnelly Rugged the
Shively fellows and thanked them for
giving their support to Shiveiy ana
there was a general love feast.
Fleming Hates Kern.
Jennings tight against Kern OF
course was based ON other grounds
than Of the brewery. Fleming hates
Kern because several years ago Kern
defeated him for chairman of the DEM
ocratic state committee and that defeat
has stung ever since. So Fleming
went into the senatorial night not rs .
brewer. but for the sole purpose OF
defeating Kern and. incidentally, to
nominate Hoffman II he could. But
the fact remains that Fleming In q
brewer and that he was against Kern.
Now that the lines have been drawn
SO clearly as to leave no question OF
doubt rs TO the fact that Kern vas
defeated by the activity Of the brewing
interests Kern's followers are saying
things. And Kern himself has promis-
ed that he will issue . statement that
that he was double crossed In tho
choice Of . senator and that those
whom he regarded as his friends threw
him down. Whether this will involve
/ Tom Taggart or not Is not yet known.
but Taggart has always been close to
the brewery crowd and has in fact,
been one Of the leaders.
j Repeal Law Threatsned.
This situation puts the repeal q the
county option law In danger. and there
is 4 good chance for the effort to fail.
There is no question that Kern has
many friends in the legislature. This
was shown plainly by the fact that he
| received :5 votes ON the last ballot.
while Shively received ~. bare ma
jority. II dozen or more Of Kern's
supporters take notion to get re-
venge for his defeat and vote against
the repeal of the county option law
| the brewers may find that they have