The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-02-01
palladium Specially

9SeteI odE, 10 the erect tnat Stepnen
3. Fleming, of Fort Wayne, head OF
the Association of Indiana Brewers.
IS in WASHINGTON talking politics TO
The Democratic members OF Congress
from Indiana, has aroused a good deal
Of comment in this city and through
out the state. 4 good many people
do not believe the report that he is
talking politics TO the congressman.
These people point to the fact that
Fleming not long ago insisted that
the brewers did not intend TO take any
hand in the coming state campaign.
and that they would not undertake
to control either organization or elect
either state chairman. Both parties
We're to be. left free to choose their
own state committees and to select
their own chairmen..
1t is true that Fleming made such
statement few weeks ago and
that it was published in some of the
papers throughout Indiana 1t was
made at a time when the brewers
association was under fire by the Anti
Saloon League for saving that the
brewers intended to clean up the
liquor business in this state
What the Charge Was.
1t was charged that the brewers had
lot retired from politics. but that they
were still in it and that they would
undoubtedly try to control at least
the Democratic state committee and
state organization so as to have the
assurance that the next campaign
would be run on lines that would be
satisfactory 10 them. Fleming said
in that statement that the brewers
would not make any effort to mix in
politics this year: that they would
stay out of it and seek to show the
people that they were in earnest in
their purpose to clean up the saloon
business in this state and place it on
a more respectable basis. He said
the brewers realized as we'll as any
one else that evils had crept into the
saloon business, and they We're going
10 try to eliminate them.
This sounded good but good many
people took no stock in what he an
nounccd as the purpose of the brew
ers. They pointed ont that the brew
ers had made such promises before
and that all of them had been broken.
They said the brewer takes to poll
tics naturally. and that they would
not believe the brewers Intended to
stay out Of it until they actually saw
it being done. 1t is pointed out, too,
that it would be extremely dangerous
for the brewers TO mix up in the poll
teal game this year. but the skeDtics
answered that tho brewers never see
any danger in politics, because they
nave played the game so long that
they have come to regard themselves
rs beyond the reach of any danger
Fleming Busy Man.
The report from Washington comes
so strairht that it seems almost i'm
possible to not believe it. The cor
respondents say that Fleming has
been talking with the Democratic con-
gressmtn from Indiana, and they de-
clare that the. liquor question is the
only thing he could have been talking
about, for it is the main question in
which he is interested at this time.
1t is not believed here, however.
that Fleming or anyone csc will be
able to make much Roadway with tie
proposition, if that is what he is agi-
tating. It is said tnat he wishes the
congressman to agree that the next
democratic state platform shall con-
tain declaration III favor OF ware
and township local option with a 81 .O0n
saloon license fee and other restric-
tions. It is we'll known fact that
if any effort is made to insert in the
democratic state platform this year
any declaration on the liquor question
the party will be split from stem to
stern, and that there is a very strong
element in the party which will op-
pose it with all of their might. 1t
has been practically decided by the
leaders of both parties that nothing at
all is to be said in the platforms on
the question of liquor legislation.
Both sides have had enough of it and
both are only too willing to let it drop
and be forgotten. Therefore. if Flem-
ing is seeking to interest the con-
gressmen in any plan for the insertion
VI SuCu a pldUk III the SCaGe PLATFORM
he will most certainly fail. if present
indications count for anything
Have Their Hands Full.
The fact is that the brewers are hay.
ing their hands full with their clean
ing up scheme. They are finding it
almost impossible TO convince the peo-
pie that they are in earnest in the dec
laration that they wish 10 bring about
better conditions. The people have
heard this kind of talk for so many
years that they are slow to accept it.
If the brewers could only convince peo-
pie that they really are in earnest and
that they are sincere there would be
no trouble for them to accomplish
something. They would bring support
to their side and they could clean
things up in a hurry. But there is
the trouble. The people are not yet
convinced that they mean what they
say. and they will not be convinced
until they see something tangible &C.
complished. This is a reason why il
is believed that Fleming is not talking
liquor plank to the congressman at