The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-06-17
BY w. r. PoUNDSToNE.

Wayne county ProSreSSlFeS won
decisive victory at the Republican con-
greSSiOnal convention held In cam
bridge City yesterday, and it was
victory of such generous proportions
that their brethren of the Moose all
over the district will experience the
benefits of it.
This victory was made possible by
James Eli Watson's return to active
leadership of the Republican party in
the Sixth district, featured by his die
tation of the nomination of Patrick
Joseph Lynch, of New Castle. district
chairman, over Judge ID. w. Comstock,
of Richmond, who had previously been
assured the nomination without op-
position
Watson, by influencing Lynch TO en-
ter the lists against Judge Comstock
after Lynch had publicly announced
his withdrawal from the race in favor
of the popular Wayne county jurist.
has succeeded in thoroughly demoral-
izing the Republican party of the dis
trict at the time when every effort
was being put forth to rehabilitate its
shattered fortunes.
Wayne County RevoIts.
Wayne county Republican leaders
following the preparation OF one OF
the most unscrupulous double
crosses" of Jim Watson's unsavory
political career, left Cambridge City
yesterday afternoon sick at heart.
heaping maladictions on the head of
the Rushville usurper and vowlng
eternal opposition to p ]. Lynch.
With Judge Comstock the congress
ional nominee. these Wayne county
leaders knew that their county ticket,
which is we'll balanced one. would
be greatly strengthened, for the judge
is popular with all classes of citizens
in Wayne county. and they knew that
his nomination was essential II the
Republican party was TO have any
chance of success at the Wayne county
polls next November.
They had been assured that the re-
construction of the party in the dis
trict was to begin at its keystone.
Wayne county. and that Wayne
county. in consequence. was to dictate
the congressional nominee. =. j
Lynch had been party to this agree
ment. although he became hoarse
denying it yesterday.
Ready for Reconstruction.
So yesterday morning Wayne's
twenty-six delegates left for Cam
bridge City, pleased that they were to
nave Ile OppoI IuIIIlS vi AoloA ~,
their distinguished associate, Judge
Comstock, whom they believed to be
the strongest candidate district Re
pubicanism could offer.
They recalled that at the Wayne
county Republican convention ten days
previous P. j. Lynch had approved the
Endorsement of Judge COmstOCk for
the nomination. and had announced he
would retire from the contest i'll favor
of the Judge And they recalled how
Lynch had later encouraged Judge
Comstock to accept the nomination
and had departed on tour of the dis
trict with the announcement that his
| purpose was to work up sentiment in
| favor of Wayne's candidate.
Forgot Watson's Ghost.
! Not once did they figure Jim Watson
as a factor in the selection of con
| gressional candidate. After two dis
asterous defeats and the unsavOry
publicity he had obtained during the
! investigation of the notorious and
! heavy-smelling Mulhall lobby scandal
! they believed the Rushville man was
peacefully at rest in his political grave
| In fact they departed for Cambridge
! City with the belief that the political
stage had all been set for the nomina-
tiOn of Judge Comstock.
Therefore it is easy to imagine the
| surprise. disgust and Indignation of
| the Wayne delegates when they learn
ed on their arrival in Cambridge that
/ Lynch had broken his promise to re-
| tire from the contest, that the general
manager of his campaign. in personal
/ command. was James Eli Watson and
! that he had the support of q majority
! of the delegates. collected on his trip
through the district when he was sup
posed to be serving the interests OF
Judge ComstoCk. and that a delega.
! ton of WatsOnian henchmen was or
| ganized and prepared to wait upon
! Judge ComStOck with the polite re
quest that he withdraw his candidacy
in favor of Lynch. an unnecessary re-
quest for Judge Comstock had from
the first announced that he would not
permit his name to be presented TO
the convention if he was to have op
position.
Plot Sickens Wayne.
When the truth dawned upon the
Wayne delegates that they and their
candidate had been made the dupes OF
a conspiracy. hatched the night before
in Cambridge City by the old political
boss of the district and his old gang
of henchmen, VIII HavenS of Rush
Vile, Judge Head of Brookville. Car
Heatherington of Fayette, ct al. their
indignation knew no bounds. The all
became blue with their vitrolic Ian
guage.
They denounced, communicated
cussed, threatened and bullyragged
James Eli Watson for two solid hours
while Jim, suave. Immaculate and un
perturbed. smiled benignly with the
pleasure afforded him by the spectacle