The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-09-10
Well Known Progressive
Saws He Has More Friends
in Indiana Than Any Other
Two Men in State.
STATE PROGRESSIVE
SAYS CHAIRMAN LEE
lie Says that the State, as a
Whole, Is for President
Taft-Political Gossip by
Carl Mote.
~ CARL MOTE.

~ CARL MOTE. -.
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9.-'FOrmer
Senator Albert J. Beveridge has more
friends In Indiana than any other two
men In public life." declared well
known progressive Republican last
week. "Those persons who believe
that he Is dead politically will awak-
en- during the next campaign to find
that he is very live issue in the
reorganization Of the state committee.
Senator Beveridge will return to In
diana during the first weeks Of Octo-
ber and he will take an active part In
the next campaign"
This statement was made by one of
Senator Beveridge's closest friends
and one who gave out the impression
that he was speaking with authority d.
rect from Senator Beveridge himself.
He said the former United States SEN
ator from Indiana would enter into the
campaign of 1912 with the same zest
that characterized his activity during
the campaign of 1910.
State Chairman Edwin M. Lee who
was Beveridge's candidate year ago
10 q candidate for reelection and has
spent eigth weeks in visiting the party
workers In the ninety-two counties.
Mr.. Lee gave out a statement few
days ago to the Sun and the Palla-
dunn in which he said President Taft
had made an unfortunate mistake in
assailing the progressive wing Of the
party In his Beverly speech.
Lee supplemented the statement
made few days ago saying later that
he personally would support Presi-
DIT .Te1t's. candidacy- for renominar
II believe President Taft is sincere" !"
oaid Mr.. Lee. mo doubt he is trying
to make a record for the party and his
errors certainly are mistakes in judg-
ment. While there are some sections
Of the state where the Taft opposition
II marked. Indiana as whole is for
Taft and I do not believe there will be
q contest In the election of delegates
to the national convention.
Mr.. Lee was asked whether he be-
lieves Indiana is a reactionary or a
progressive state.
II certainly believe that Indiana ts
! progressive" he replied. There has
bean no direct issue before the people
In the last two or three years by which
Il could be determined to certainty
whether Indiana is progressive. The
liquor question has been projected in
to each campaign and the people have
hoA ~ ~ q
their sentiment Independently. The
liQuor question ought to be decided at
q special election when 1t could not be
made the plaything of party politi-
clans. II has no place In political
campaign and 1t was a mistake in the
first place to believe 1t should be made
IAN issue in 1908.
Mr.. Lee said he had found that for
mer Governor Frank T. Hanly, who
forced the county local option bill up
on q special session of the general as
sembly is the most discredited man in
the state. He said Hanly is the up
.shot of more histile criticism than any
other one man or thing that contribute
ed to the defeat OF the Republicans
IN 1908 and again In 1910.
II the reactionary Republicans en-
compass the defeat of State Chairman
Lee for reelection, they probably will
find that in so doing, they have light.
ed score OF fuses which lead directly
to the pulse Of Republican votes. in
dispensible to party harmony in the
campaign of 1912 and many succeed.
Ing campaigns. The defeat of Lee, II
10 predicted. would be felt for many
years In party politics.
While It is probable that the reac.
tionary element of the party can de
feat Lee and elect a state chairman
OF their own habits. it Is equally prob
able that II would be political suicide
to do So According to the rules OF
the game which have prevailed in
this state, Lee Is entitled to a re-elec.
tion. He declared to the Sun that he
30 for party harmony and that he will
consider any effort to oust him from
the chairmanship as a sign OF bad
faith on the part OF his opponents. He
will thus force the standpatters to
take an aggressive position and hence
the defensive when its comes to de
tending themselves before the people
In the campaign to follow.
"The opposition that has been stir
red mp against me Is really not in oppo
eition to me personally but to former
Senator Beveridge. whom I am sup
posed to represent. AS matter ot
fact have not heard from Mr.. Beyer
ldge but two times since be went to
Europe and both times I received
short notes saying that he was having
. pleasant summer in the Alps. He
did not discuss politics or make q sin
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