The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-06-17
WAYNE REPUBLICANS IN ARMS
Leaders Peeved at ComstoCk's Defeat
DenounCe Machine Rule Of Boss
In Forcing Lynch'S Nomination

of the undsguised discontinue of the
party leaders from his old political
stumbling block, Wayne county.
1t was r-r-r-revenge with a capital
and he liked il well enough to eat IL.
He could scarcely tear himself away
from the spectacle offered by these
raging, fighting Wayne county
men to drag some flattered delegate
fresh from the tall grass to an up
stairs room of the Central house for a
conference" a Watsonian act without
which no district Republican conven-
ton is complete.
Henry Fights Watson.
To the credit of the Henry county
delegation. who knew of the treach-
cry of their candidate and his un-
wholesome alliance with Watson, at
least five of the eighteen defiantly an
nounced they would support Judge
COmstock if he were placed in nomina-
tion, while several others frankly
stated that they were supporting
Lynch under protest
The Rush delegation of fourteen was
hand picked by Watson and of course
stood solidly for Lynch The majority
of delegates from Union. Fayette,
Shelby. Hancock and Franklin wnan
they arrived at Cambridge were for
Lynch, but IA break in their ranks ot-
Cured when they were told of Lynchs
treachery and the part Jim Watson
hau in the plot
Those who turned to Comstock were
good enough Republicans to know that
further support of Lynch would be a
blow to their party from which il
would take years to recover. The
mentioning of the name OF Watson TO
them was like waving a red flag i'll
front of a bull. They knew the dis
ruption of the party in 1912 had been
caused by revolt against such lead
ers as Watson. and they knew that so
long as the Republican party in the
Sixth district was tainted with Wat
sonism ii was doomed 10 ignominous
defeat and reputation.
Battle Wages at Neon.
The convention was scheduled TO
assemble at 1890 a m. but at noon
the hottest political battle staged in
the district in years was still raging
and the Watson-Lynch combine still
controlled the situation by majority
of not over six.
Particularly pugnacious Wayne
county delegates at that hour pleaded
with Judge Comstock TO permit his
name to be presented to the conven-
tiOn although contest was inevitable.
but he stood pat on his decision not
to accept the nomination il he had TO
make a fight for il.
Those who urged the Judge to toss
his hat into the ring had been en-
couraged to believe that he might be
victories because their count OF
noses showed that the Judge was sure
OF fifty of the one hundred and six
81 I-,x~ -
five, five OF Fayette's eleven. none OF
Franklins seven. four OF Shelby's fiji
teen. none of Rush's fourteen, five OF
Hancock's ten and five OF Henry's
eighteen.
When the convention assembled 10
nominate candidate at l O'Clock
Judge Comstock had issued his final
edict that he would not enter the
race. so, in consequence, Lynch was
nominated by acclamation.
Repudiate Iliff Resolution.
The resolutions adopted by the con-
vention were drafted by Earnest
Thomas. private secretary of James E.
Watson. and were the usual machine
made piffle. deploring everything not
stamped with reactionary Republican
ism.
Edgar Tiff. Of Richmond. Wayne
county's representative on the resolu-
tions committee. offered a set of reso-
lutions which We're in harmony with
progressive Republicanism. but they
were promptly rejected by the Wat
son controlled committee because il
contained this section denounCing gov
ernment by political machines:
The Republican party began its
political career by declaring to the
world that there should be no chains
upon the body. no Shackles upon the
mind. and no fetters for the souls Of
men: that the intellectual and political
domain should be forever free. and
that all true progress depends upon a
free exchange OF ideas, upon educa-
ton. upon enlightened intelligence.
upon law and order. upon the spirit
of patriotism. upon loyalty TO high
ideas. upon education, upon enlighten-
ed Intelligence. upon law and order.
upon the spirit of patriotism. upon
! loyalty to high ideals and never upon
| fraud, chicanery and MACHINE POLL
TICS. Ii makes no appeal TO ignor-
! ance, or prejudice or to the passions
of class hatred. but would destroy
these breeders of anarchy by a just
4 government.
Amid the stress and storm of mod
ern political vagaries and social and
economic fads the Republican party
should hold aloft the banner of de-
! cency, reason and common sense Ii
! sprang from the common heart of hui
manity and was nurtured and rocked
in the cradle OF liberty newly con-
ceived. and inscribed upon its roll the
many battles won in the name of the
| plain people"
These sentiments were entirely
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