The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-05-09
palladium snscian


Indianapolis, May 9.-Considerablel
interest has been aroused here In the
last day or two since the arrival Of /
Senator Reveridge from Washington
and his frequent conferences with re-
publican leaders from over the state.
A good many people are wondering II
the letter which j. Frank Hanly wrote
him some time ago and which he ans
wered did not have something to do
with the senator's decision to come
to Indiana Just at this time. Hanly
wrote Beveridge letter just like the
one which he wrote to many other
prominent republicans throughout the
state and which he wrote also to sew
eral of the republican state candi-
dates. In this letter he put two ques-
tions to them. The first was: Are
you in favor of the repeal of the coun-
ty local option law" The second was:
IF elected to the office for which you
have been nominated will you use
your best efforts to prevent the re-
peal of the county option law"
These letters and the questions they
contained caused much comment when
it became known that they had been
sent out to the candidates and to Sen
ator Beverage. 1t was the first open
indication that Hanly intended to take
an active part in the coming cam
paign. Hanly had remained quiet ev-
err since he left the governors office,
SO far as politics was concerned, and
there was belief that he would con-
tinue quiet throughout the campaign
after the republican state convention
decided to make no mention of the
liquor question In its platform. But
this, it seems, was like waving a red
| flag in front of Hanly, for no sooner
had the state convention adjourned
than reports began to fly around that
lianly was displeased over the failure
of the convention to mention the sub
ject in the platform. and that he would
probably start In to make trouble.
Whatever else may be said OF Hanly
it must be admitted that he has a
large following throughout the state
I among the temperance people and the
prohibitionists. Just how effectively
he might be able to use this following
in an election Is a question, but it
looks like Hanly intends to try 1t out
and find out for himself Just how
strong he is.
Han1y refuses to even discuss with
anybody what he is doing in politi-
cal way or to tell anybody what he is
driving at. A good many people be-
lieve that Hanly is so wrapped up in
the prohibition idea that he would not
stop at anything. even to the defeat
of the republican party If necessary,
in order to carry his prohibition ideas
into effect. It is known, too, that
Hanly hates Beveridge and that he
has always hated him ever since Bev.
eridge defeated him at the caucus Tor
the nomination for United States sen.
ator twelve years ago. Both were can.
didates for senator and for time II
looked like Hanly might be chosen
But Beverage forged ahead and won
out and walked away with the senator.
ship.
This disappointed Hanly and he has
entertained cordial dislike for Bev
eridge ever since.
People who stand on the side lines
and watch the game of politics as it is
played, believe that Hanly's dislike
for Beveridge is behind the move
which he Is now making and that he
would like to embarrass Beverage in
the present campaign sufficiently tc
| bring about his defeat and that he is
nsing the liquor proposition as q
means OF doing SO.
! Whether this is true or not remains
to be seen. Heveridge has answered
Hanly's letter. He informed Hanl,
that he was not in favor of the repea
of the county option law. He told him
also that he had never, since he be
came senator. interferred with the
legislative affairs OF the state OF In
diana and had never tried to contro
legislation on any subject and that he
would not deviate from this course il
the future. No one but Hanly knows
whether this answer was satisfactory
to him and Hanly won't tell. Blu,
there are symptoms that Hanly and
Beverage do not agree on the sub
ject in all of its Details
Many persons express the opinion
|
matter. They give him full credit fol
his enthusiasm over the temperance
question and believe that he is sin
cere in his efforts to bring about alb
solute prohibition in Indiana, but they
point out that since the local option
law is on the statute books and il
held constitutional by the supreme
court, and since the republican party
has seen fit to regard it as a settled
qnestion there is no need for anyone
to drag it back into politics by the
heels.
1t looks now like the liquor Ques
ton will again be In the campaign
with Hanly as its special champion
1t is believed by some that the ain
of Hanly In this matter is to make
sure that the local option law will BIZ
retained on the statute books above
everything else. 1t Is known that he Ii
working in connection with the Anti
Saloon league and that the league II