The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-09-16
Shivelev's Plan.

In fervent speech before the newly organ
lied Republican club of Richmond, Mr.. Ray K.
Shiveley gave utterance to the following: 1--WE
want to show the citizens of Richmond that the
spirit of the Republican party is alive, not dead.
/ am in favor of an old fashioned campaign
with hundreds of loyal Republicans marching
the streets carrying torches, to the beating of
several drum corps"
In this remarkable expression Mr.. Shiveley
hit at least one nail on the head; he reveals that
there is a general feeling abroad that the Re
publican party is dead. Mr.. Shiveley is correct ;
it is so persistently rumored that the local G. O.
P. is done with this life that nothing less than
an old fashioned campaign with hundreds of
loyal Republicans marching the streets carrying
torches to the beating of several drums can con-
vince the majority of us that there is anything
left of the Republican party at ALL
Further than that Mr.. Shiveey hit a second
nail on the right spot when he interpreted this
as being the spirit of the Republican party. If
Mr.. Shiveley is hunting for reason why the
Republican party spirit is dead he need go no
further. Any political organization in modern
city which can only express itself in campaign
by means of old fashioned campaign with
hundreds of loyal Republicans marching the
streets carrying torches, to the beating of sew
eral drum corps, is foredoomed to die. Nothing
can possibly keep it alive
What is the purpose of this exciting process
sion which the fervent spirit of Mr.. Shiveley
wishes to invoke from the past that is gone for
ever? Nothing less than to persuade the citi-
zens of this community to place in our munich
pal offices the candidates of the Republican
party.
And what would be the duty of these candi-
dates, if through some unexpected oversight the
voters of this town were to elect them? Their
task would be to administer the business affairs
of great industrial corporation made up of al
most twenty-five thousand stockholders; thew
would have to direct the expenditure of more
than three hundred thousand dollars annually
and the oversight of the health, safety and gen.
eral welfare of twenty-five thousand people
would very largely be left in their hands. The
city of Richmond is as much a business corpora
ton the NJ Rumely company; properly to ad-
minister its affairs one must be as much a bust
ness expert as the superintendent of the Rich
n1ond division of the Pennsylvania railroad
And how are business administrators chosen :?
Does the M. Rumey company get up a process
sion and whoop hurrah it when they need new
foreman in the foundry? Do they light roman
fires along the ridges of their buildings when
they have to find new general superintendent :?
Is their chief bookkeeper, their treasurer their
cashier, indicted into office with the inspiring
sound of many drum corps?
A political party which comes on the scene
at this stage of the development of city govern
ment and proposes to get its men appointed by
the people through an old fashioned campaign
with hundreds of loyal Republicans marching
tho seEeets carrying torches, to the beating of
n