The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-06-23
FUSION TICKET OF
BOTH OLD PARTIES ,
is MEREDITH PLAN !
@. O. P. District Chairmani
Makes Suggestion to City
Chairman lliff.
FEARS PROGRESSIVESI
Also it Would be Convenient
Way TO Block off Mayor
w. w. Zimmerman.
FEARS PROGRESSIVESI

Linus p Meredith. Republican dis
trict chairman, is of the opinion that
the only chance of defeating the Pro-
gressive ticket at the city election
next fall. is for the Republicans and
the Democrats TO place a fusion ticket
in the field. and he has made a rec
ommendation TO that effect to ]. Ed
gar Hin. Republican city chairman
Iliff stated today that Meredith had
! suggested to him that the plan be laid
before the Democratic city commit
tee. with the suggestion that a Demo-
crat be nominated for mayor and that
the nominees for clerk and council
men be Republicans.
Aimed at Zimmerman.
The Meredith plan. of course. would
compel Mayor Zimmerman to make
the race for reelection on an indepen-
dent ticket, consequently il is not ex-
pected it will meet with the enthusi-
bers of the Republican committee. and
substantial majority OF the commit
| tee are Zimmerman supporters.
When DIR. Zimmerman was asked
his opinion of Meredith's fusion play
today. he curtly replied. Il am a cam
didate for mayor. don't care what
other people do" then abruptly con-
cluded the interview.
c. NJ Caldwell. chairman of the
Democratic city committee. when the
Meredith proposal was broached to
him today, automatically stated that
he would want TO study the question
before making any definite state
ment. but he appeared to be In a re-
ceptive mood.
Mr.. Caldwell said that he had never
consulted with the other members OF
his committee on the question of q
fusion ticket, and did not know what
the sentiment of it's members was. but
he said that as an off-hand opinion.
the proposal. IL considered at all.
would have TO be more advantageous
to the Democrats. He meant by that
that the Democrats would not be con-
tent with having only one candidate
he stated.
One Veto for Proposal.
Another prominent Democrat. who
asked that his name be withheld. en-
! phatically vetoed the Meredith plan
I'VE have no business merging with
the Republicans. Our party would
lose it's individuality by such action"
de stated.
Incidentally. Republican Chairman
Iliff is opposed to the fusion project,
and has not acted on Meredith's sug-
gestion that he take up the matter
with Tom Study"
Tonight the Republican city COM
mittee will hold a meeting and will
attempt to reach a decision regarding
the matter of nominating a city ticket.
Most of the members are in favor Of
holding a primary election. but sew
eral of the members of the advisory
committee strongly advocate the con-
vention idea.
AntLZimmerman Men Busy.
| IL ii is decided to hold a primary.
such action will be ample proof that
DIR. Zimmerman controls the commit
tee. for the mayor has publicly stated
that he will not be a candidate for
the Republican mayoralty nomination
unless primary is held.
Indications are that the advocates
of the primary plan will command suf-
fcient strength TO have IL adopted.
but the anti-Zimmerman men will
not, in such an event, abandon their
efforts to keep DIR. Zimmerman OF the
ticket II leaked out today that
Charles Jordan. secretary OF the Com
mercial club. has been asked to make
the race against DIR. Zimmerman.
whether the ticket is to be nominated
at a primary or at a convention II
/ is stated that Mr.. Jordan has reached
no decision in this matter as yet.