The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-03-18
Resignation of Superintendent
palladium Specially

(Pailadlum specially
Indianapolis, Ind, March 1S.-Al-
though E. S. Shumaker, superintendent
of the Indiana anti-saloon league, has
returned from Evansville, where he is
said to have made an investigation of
the resignation of W. C. Helt, super
intendent of the Evansville district of
the league, no statement has been CIV
en- out from the league headquarters in
regard to the matter. Mr.. Shumaker
was asked yesterday afternoon in re-
gard to the matter. but said that he
did not care to discuss it.
Mr.. Shumaker is usually pretty free
about discussing matters that relate to
the league and his silence at this time
has caused much speculation as to the
internal condition of the league. It
does not seem reasonable to many that
the league could adopt a resolution for
state wide prohibition without causing
any trouble at the time of its adoption
and then have the trouble break out
about three months since the trustees
OF the league met in Indianapolis and
decided to stand for state wide prohi
bition by constitutional amendment.
Is Internal Trouble.
The general belief is though that
IL there is internal trouble in the
league it has been caused by the activ-
ity of the league in looking after the
nomination of legislative candidates
who would not oppose the leagues pol
icies. 1t has just been found that rep
resentatives of the league have already
been in one or two counties where leg
islative candidates have been nominal
ed.
The fact that the league headquarters
is silent in regard to the resignation of
Mr.. Helt, who resigned because he did
not believe the people were ready for
state wide prohibition and the fact that
none of the other four district super
intendents and none of the field men
have given expression to their feelings
is leading to the growing conviction
that all is not we'll with the league.
An Incident Recalled.
1t is recalled now that the Rev. F..
@. Ballard of the headquarters COM
mittee a day or two after the trustees
of the league met in Indianapolis, de-
clared that the details of the leagues
policy had been left to the headquar-
tiers committee and this committee he
said. would not be inclined to attempt
to pledge candidates for the legislature
to vote for state wide prohibition
amendment. In spite of this declara-
ton the league has been going ahead
<h.o,,oI tic cunoriofopdopt oud mod |.
ding in the legislative situation, it is
said. 1t is noted also that no member
of the headquarters committee has had
anything to say up to this time in re-
gard to the resignation of Mr.. Helt.
1t is predicted from several sources
| that if Mr.. Shumaker wishes to retain
his anti-saloon league intact. he will
have to give up his active legislative
campign and stick strictly to the pol
icy outlined by the trustees and will
| have to restrain himself from inter
preting this policy so literally.
It is Interesting to know that Mr.
Helt, who resigned on account of the
fight of the league for state wide pro
hibition, was one of the Oldest work
ers in the organization. He was SUI
perintendent of the league at the time
it was organized and had continued ir
it's service since that time. For a Ions
time he had been superintendent Of
the Evansville district, one of the mos
important in the state.
Clark Opposes Plan.
i State Senator Salem d. Clark Of In
dianapolis, one of the holdover mem
bers of the senate, is the first holdove
member to give an expression in re
gard to the governors plan for hav
ing the Democratic state convention
nominate the candidate of the part.
} for United States senator. Senate
Clark says he is opposed to the plal
J although he stands in favor of all o
the declarations that have been mad
in democratic platforms. He give
several reasons for his objections
! among them the fact that delegates t
! the state convention have already bee
) selected in several counties.
Clay w. Metsker of Plymouth, pres
J dent of the Democratic Editorial asse
! citation, who has sent out a letter in al
gument against the governors pla