The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-12-29
CALLS BULL MOOSE
INTO A CONFERENCE
County Recorder Just Sought
Advice on New Ap-
pOintive Jobs.
PARSONS IN CHARGE
Mayor-Elect Sidesteps Meet
ing and Howard Brooks
Arrives Late.

Prominent Progressive leaders in
Richmond and various parts OF the
county Saturday morning were sum
moned by telephone by County Re
corder Ben Parsons to conference in
the afternoon at the court house. The
impression was given out that Mr..
Parsons was acting on a request made
to him by Commissioners Anderson
and Linderman and Commissioner
I elect Doddridge to discuss vitality i'm
pOrtant political questions.
Twenty or thirty responded to Mr..
Parsons telephone calls and he gath
cred in an equal number in the, corri-
doris of the court house and on the
streets. All were personally well
coined by the recorder and then hus-
tied into his private office. When the
widely heralded conference began it
was learned that the two commission
ers and the commissioner-eiect were
as much in the dark as to the nature
of the meeting as were the other par
manned for Mr.. Parsons to explain that
the conference had been called for the
purpose of discussing the appoint
ments of county health officer, county
highway commissioner and county in
firmafg superintendent
Sidestep the Issue.
Then a diplomatic discussion of the
virtues and shortcomings of the vari-
Gus candidates for the three jobs the
commissioners have at their disposal
was entered into.
Four physicians devoted much time
to the question of the appointment OF
a county health officer withOu tone of
them recommending any part liar ap-
plicant, although two, indicated that
DR.. Hunt of this city was their choice,
one that DR.. Kruger was the ideal Sc
lection and the other physician indi-
rectly suggested that DR.. King was de-
serving of re-appointment.
The laymen councillors maintained q
discrete silence on this question, so If
| the commissioners are gifted with the
ar of mind reading they probably were
able to ascertain the candidate most
popularity favored for this office.
Boosts George Ball.
One party leader in discussing the
appointment of a county highway sli-
perintendeut, came right out and stat
ed his choice. He said he thought Ball
was the man for the job for he was a
competent railroad contractor. Other
speakers advised the commissioners to
appoint the best man available, prefer
ably a good Progressive, which Sug-
gestiOns were of great benefit to the
commissioners, for they previously
had been entertaining the idea that
this would be the best method for
them to pursue.
The infirmary superintendency was
handled gingerly, the commissioners
only being advised to select an effici-
ent farmer who was a loyal Progress
siye.
Robbins Is Wary.
There were several active party
workers who sidestepped the confer
ence, after ascertaining what it had
been called for Mayor-elect Robbins,
who is still Progressive county chair
man, was one of this number He en-
tertained the idea that the county
board members should assume the en-
tire responsibility for making the three
appointments and that all they would
have to do to satisfy the public would
be to appoint competent. trustworthy
men. County Secretary Howard Brooks
was an eleventh hour conference at
tendant but had no part in the discus
sion.
There was much mystification today
as to the reasons why the appointment
of an infirmary superintendent should
be subject for discussion by
a group of party workers, for
prior to this conference the
County Board of Charities had met
with the commissioners in executive
session and had recommended a candi-
date for this appointment. Their rec
ommendation was based solely on his
fitness to hold the office.