The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-06-16
BOSS jim NAMES
LYNCH TO Make
CONGRESS RACE
G. o. p. Reactionary Machine
Sacrifices Jurist on Plea of
Old Age and Need of
Youth.
New Castle Courier Editor
Says Convention COntrOll-
ed by Machine. and NOmi.
nation a Mistake.
BY RAMSEY PoUNDsToNE.

BY RAMSEY POUNOSTONE.
CAMBRIDGE CITY. June 16.-The
old Watson machine. battered and
rusty from enforced idleness but
patched and repaired especially for
the Sixth district Republican conven-
ton by James Eli Watson, diScredited
boss and master mechanic of the old
q. o. p. machine in Indiana, this after
noon nominated p. j. Lynch, of New
Castle, for congress over Judge ID. W.
Comstock, of Richmond
Watson, with political oil and scrap
iron, was on the scene early. His
master hand directed the naming OF
Lynch and the sidetracking of the
Wayne county jurist. Watson domi-
mated the convention. He commanded
the battle. There was no room for
other leaders. in fact, none made SER
ious effort to oppose the former whip
of the house under the Joe Cannon
regime, and if he had, chances were
that the smooth Italian hand of oily
Jim would have strangled the attempt.
Machine Still Controls.
Lynch was the man Watson wanted
for congress, and Lynch was nomi-
mated, proving that the old G. o. P re-
dictionary machine is still in control Of
the district.
II was apparent after the arrival of
Watson in Cambridge City that Judge
Comstock had no chance. Lynch was
the Moses picked by the domineering
boss of Rushville to lead the G. o. P
defeated band of hopefuls in the next
congressional fight. and Lynch backed
by the machine was selected. Watson
wanted to humiliate Wayne county.
against which he has an ancient
grudge. He did it.
Before the convention George FL
liott. editor of the New Castle Courier.
a staunch Republican paper, had a
long talk with Lynch. in which the
latter upbraided Elliott for endorsing
Comstock in his paper. Elliott gave
The Palladium representative the fol
lowing statement:
1t will be a terrible mistake il
Lynch is nominated This convention
is controlled by the Watson machine"
Events proved that the convention
was controlled by Boss Watson.
Lynch Tries to Explain.
Lynch asserted time and again that
he did not make the statement given
a Palladium representative few davs
ago in which he said he would not
oppose ComstOcks nomination and
that he had withdrawn from the race
He called the political writer of The
d!lduIuIl a ldI- Dut OIHtI New 1aStl-
men upheld the original statement
printed in The Palladium
The nomination OF Lynch follow ed
after he had been nominated by Bert
Evans. former Henry county prosecu-
tor, and the following sententiouS
speech by Charles r. Shiveley OF Rich
mOnd when Wayne county was called
on the roll for nominations:
Il have been delegated to speak on
behalf OF the only candidate Wayne
county thought she had. Judge ID. ".
ComstoCk has decided not to have his
name presented,
As no other county had name 10
present. Lynch was nominated by az
Clamation.
Comstock Withdraws.
Judge ComStoCk at the last minute.
pursuant TO his oft repeated declara-
tiCn that he would not be candidate
if there were opposition to his name,
decided not to have his name go be-
fore the convention.
Elmer BasSett of Shelby county was
permanent chairman and Walter BuS-
sert of Union county temporary chair
man. while Walter Montgomery of
Shelby county was both temporary
and permanent secretary.
AT the joint senatorial convention Of
Wayne and Union counties. Walter
BCsSert was. nominated for the state
senate race.
Watson Wants Young Man.
In his speech nominating Lynch. Ev-
ans said the Republicans OF the dis
triCt must nominate young mar,
filled with e. 0. p. enthusiasm, one
who could make a house to house can
vass. and filled with the ardor of
youth carry the party's banner to vic
tory. He intimated strongly that
Judge ComStock was too old a man
Watson seemed pleased with tie
sentiments of Evans. and why should
he not? Evans was his spokesman,
evidently he uttered what the ma
chine wanted him to say. Wayne
county's delegates. whom Watson
loves to belittle. had to hear the
speech with as good grace as possible
under the circumstances.
Doube-cross Apparent.
What was expected to be a Republi
can harmony and get-together meeting
had every indication of a lively politi-
cal row. when the delegates assem-
bled and charges OF a double-cross
were hurled right and left.
Wayne countys delegation, twenty
six in number. came to Cambridge
City with the expectation that its can
didate. Judge d. W. Comstock. OF
Richmond, would be named by accla-
nation, as il was understood by the
Wayne county Republicans. that the
ONLY prospective candidate. p. ]. Lynch
IContinued on Page Stx2
-s-.-------.-