The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-04-04
WHAT IS THE USE
OF AN ELECTION;
FINISH IS TOLD
Billie BIodgett, Political Scout
Of the indianapolis News,
Looks Us Over, Then Tells
The Result.
GORDON PRESS AGENT
GETS IN DEADLY WORK
Captures Meandering Capital
Scribe-BiIIie Listens,
Swallows the Hook, Then
He PrognosticateS.

Writing in the Indianapolis News,
William E. Blodgett, the political scout
of that paper, yesterday afternoon dis
coursed upon the mayoralty situation
in Richmond. Blodgett's reputation
one way and the other. truth and yer.
acity, and the lack of it. is we'll known
throughout the state. He picks DR.
w. W. Zimmerman and ]. Bennett
Gordon as the leading candidates just
now. and suggests that thirty days
hence there may be change.
William, after successfully report
ing a farmers institute in Posey coun
ty, descended upon Richmond and, aft
er learning the mayoralty situation
here through the medium of Gordon
press agent, now informs his spell.
bound audience of the result of his
thorough investigation" In his ar
ticle, Blodgett relates that Mr.. Harris
is a patron of the Light. Heat & Pow.
er company. but carelessly overlooked
the fact that Mr.. Gordon's newspaper
plant uses power furnished by the
same concern. No doubt it was also
an oversight on the part of this self-ap-
pointed political expert. when he for.
got to mention the heroic services the
editor of the. Item has, In the past
rendered the republican party:
With the exception Of Gordon's plat
form, which has been published pre-
viously, Blodgett writes:
What eiodsett Says.
There are several things that the peo
pie of the state at large are interested
in as far as this city is concerned
They would like to know why Wayne
county, the home of the Quakers, went
wet" in the county local option fight
And they would like to know who will
be the next mayor of Richmond. The
two questions are close to each other
the same answer would not do for
both, but both questions are figuring
extensively in the civic life OF this city
In the first place the saloon keepers
of Richmond helped along great deal
because they obeyed the laws and con-
Quoted their saloons along legitimate
lines Again, the temperance people
were divided ON the question. Some
of them believed that the election
should not have been held during the
session of the legislature when the
matter Of repeal was in the balance
and many temperance people remained
away from the polls. Others who be-
came angry because the election was
called, voted the "wet'' ticket to spite
the ones who insisted on the election
But. last of all, the "wets'' had a per
feet organization. as complete as any
political organization could be made
and the temperance people had no Or
ganization that rendered material aid
in making the county of Wayne &c
wet that will cut large figure in
the coming municipal campaign.
Republicans Who Would Be Mayor.
There are five candidates for the re.
publican nomination for mayor. The
nomination will be by primary in
dUOuJ OoNo. AS SAANsNsASS~
are Ed Harris. employed in the Second
National bank. but now taking vaca-
tion in order to make his race for may
or. Mr. Harris, who is about thirty
years old. is secretary Of the Young
Mems Business club, of which Rudolph
Leeds is president. Mr.. Leeds is the
editor of the Richmond Palladium. and
that paper is making a vigorous fight
for Mr.. Harris. Mr.. Leeds, however
is cruising on the Pacific ocean, and
the fight is being made by his hired
hands, and they are putting up good
one, even if the boss is away. John
L. Rupe, attorney for the Pennsylvania
railroad. and Johnny Robbins. attor-
ney for the Richmond Water Works
company, are also supporting Mr..
Harris, and the Richmond Light. Heat
and Power company is lending him
what aid it can. l mention these In
terests because they will cut consider
able figure in the campaign.
Bennett and Fouike.
J. Bennett Gordon. editor OF the
Richmond Item, is also q candidate
and behind him is nearly the entire or
ganization that assisted in making
Wayne county wet" The Item II
owned by Mr.. Gordon and William
Dudley Foulke, whose friends declare
him to be the only real aristocraf
Richmond has. Gordon Is hard fight
er and able to take lot Of punish-
ment. He has the support, ~ ! said.
OF most Of the wet organization ana
some Of the temperance people. Dartic-
ularly those temperance people who
did not favor holding the county option
election at the time it was held A