The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-10-29
Wayne County Republican
Central Committee Turns
Down Plan to Act as Host
to Taft's Rival.
PRECEDENT FEARED
BY COMMITTEE MEN
Two Progressive Members
Argued that Such Action
as Proposed Was Proper
Bonds Hand Seen.

United States Senator Robert La
Toilette, who is recognized as the can
didate OF the progressive wing OF the
Republican party for nomination for
president. against President Taft, will
not come to this city in November as
the guest of the Wayne county repub'
lican central committee.
The committee adopted resolution
yesterday that it would be imprudent
for the county organization to hold the
meeting under its auspices.
But the committees decision does
not mean Senator LaFollette will lack
for entertainment or reception during
his short stay here, when he opens his
campaign as candidate for the Pres
idency In the Hoosier state, espous-
ing the principles fthe progressive
faction OF the party. with which
Wayne county Republicans are large
ly allied.
The exact date of the senator's Wis
1t to the city has not yet been an
nounced.
Inasmuch as the committee had
been invited to act as host for the
distinguished statesman it's meeting
yesterday was called to debate the
much mooted question as to whether
1t would be advisable to decline 1t or
accept it.
The first business before the ses.
sion yesterday. in the circuit court
room. was whether the members
OF the committee should go into execu-
tive session. The suggestion, drafted
by chairman Francis McMinn, was put
in the shape OF a motion by Harry
Goodwin.
ability Of a star chamber session,
there were but four outsiders in the
court room when the question arose,
and two or three raised the point that
they did not think 1t best that their
constituency should know the senti-
ments expressed by each member. but
that the censure or appreciation for
whatever decision was made should
be given to the committee as a whole.
The motion was carried and out
went the press representatives and
two interested party men.
For almost two hours the debatable
issue was up and the final decision
was against bringing LaFollette here
under the committees auspices. The
motion was put by Charles Galloway
OF Washington township. The vote
was not canvassed. Although reso-
luton will be drafted containing the
reasons for the committees action,
this was afterwards tabled with the
understanding that on Sunday 1t
should be amended by Chairman Nc
MINI and Secretary Peltz. Chairman
McMinn said he had to hurry home
and could not undertake the work just
at that time.
Give Their Reasons.
After the meeting several of the
members cited different reasons why
the proposal was turned down, all de-
claring it should not be construed as
. slap for LaFollette, as they claimed
they admired his qualifications for the
office which he seeks. Some felt that
inasmuch as the tenure of office of the
committeeman would end within a
few weeks II the committee de-
cided to play host to LaFollette its &C
tion might in some way embarass the
incoming committee. Others felt
such action would be misunderstood
in some sources and the committee,
by it's act, would have gone on record
as taking sides in q nomination con-
test, whereas the committee believes
It should remain neutral. Others were
more biased in their opinions and vot-
ed to reject the invitation because
the senator Is expected to talk against
the administration. Several others
the proposition from an impersonal
standpoint and objected on the ground
It would be unpolitic.
c. E. Hiatt and Howard Brooks
were the only two members Of the
committee in favor of the meeting
being held under the auspices Of the
committee. These two members stat.
ed that they had made an investiga-
ton and found that nearly everyone
was in favor Of the LaFollette meet.
ing and that the committee was the
proper organization to have charge OF
the affair. The action of the commit.
tee was not . surprise. as it Is general.
ly known that q majority of the com.
mittee belong to the standpat element
Of the party. William A. Bond ex'
pressed himself q few days ago in
the presence Of several members OF
the committee that he did not care
what the people thought about the
matter he was going to vote and do as
he thought best. He has been one
Of the most active against the LaFol
lette meeting.
The following members of the com
mittee were present at the meeting
Helms, McMinn, Martindale. Grave
! Worl. Brown. Palmer. Hiatt, Galloway
/ Hampton, Russell. Evans. Peltz. Fry
Brooks, Bond. Goodwin. Stamer.