The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-12-10
Clarence Mote Ousted by
Sheriff-Elect, as Result of
Agreement Engineered by
Charles Potter.
G. O. P. ORDERS MOVE
Potter, Peeved at Defeat,
Throws Support for Steen
and Mote Loses Job in
Shuttle.

Albert B. Steen, SneTlll-eleCL VI
Wayne county, who was elected on
the Republican ticket last month, has
selected as his deputy one of the best
known Progressive workers in the
city, Oscar w. Mashmeyer, city sanl-
tary officer and who served as deputy
under former Sheriff Linus p. Mere
dith.
In making this appointment Steen
has followed the advice OF certain IN
fluential Republican leaders to select
a Progressive as his deputy, although
a certain faction of Republican work
ers strongly advised the appointment
of a Republican, while still another
faction urged the retention OF Car
ence Mote as deputy.
In the selection of Mashmeyer as
deputy sheriff an interesting polltlcal
angle is developed. Mashmeyer was
a candidate against Steen for the Re-
publican nomination for sheriff four
years ago but was defeated. lie poll
ed a very large vote, however. IL is
understood that Mashmeyer still cher
ishes an ambition to fill that Office.
Avenges Defeat.
Steen served his first term, two
years, and was then renomlnated 10
succeed himself Jacob Bayer, run
ming on the Progressive ticket, defeat
ed him. however, but this year he
avenged this defeat by beating Bayer,
who was seeking his second term as
the Progressive candidate.
In his campaign this fall Steen'
many Republicans assert said that II
he was elected sheriff again, he would
not be candidate for reelection III
1916, but following his defeat of Bayer
it was soon common gossip in polltl-
cal circles that he had approached
Mashmeyer with the offer of the dep
utyship providing Mashmeyer would
agree not to be candidate for sher-
iff in 1916 which was taken to mean
that Steen was already considering
making the race for third term.
Mashmeyer in Denial.
This report was denied by Mash
meyer today. He said he had entered
into no such an agreement with Steen
but he further admitted he still en-
tertained political ambitions.
The elimination of Mote, who has
served four years as deputy sheriff, is
the direct result of bipartisan agree
ment entered into by dissruntled
Progressive worker and certain lead
ers Of the two other parties some time
before the recent election. While
Mote is a Progressive and would there
fore have been eligible to re-appoint
ment under the tacit understanding
that the deputy sheriff should be Sc
lected from the ranks Of that party. he
was in the bad graces, political wise
ones say of the only Progressive mem
ber of the bipartisan organization,
-, l. fnr q
candidate for the Progressive nomina-
ton for county clerk at the Progress
sive primaries last winter. Mote was
one of the candidates against him.
Both were defeated and Claude Kee-
yer received the nomination. In the
campaign last fall Potter, it is openly
charged by number of Progressive
leaders, threw his influence to Steen.
NJ. w. Kelly. Judge Fox, and L. E.
Bowman candidates who were not on
the Progressive ticket. 1t was assert
ed after the election that Mote had a
very poor chance of being selected
Stems deputy.
Under the bipartisan agreement
Kelly. Democratic candidate for coun-
ty clerk, received Republican and Pro
gressive support. Judge Fox Repub-
lican candidate for circuit judge, l.. S.
Bowman. Republican candidate for
county auditor, and AL Steen. G. o. P.
candidate for sheriff, received Pro
gressive and Democratic support. The
SO-called wet" faction leaders of the
Democratic party were identified with
this political caba1, Potter was recruit
ed from the Progressive ranks, while
the Republican organization as a
whole encouraged the movement be-
cause it meant additional support to
so many of it's candidates.
The most Influential Republican
leaders advised Steen to appoint a
Progressive as his deputy as mat
ter of political eXpediency They are
the promoters of the Republican-Pro-
gressive "get-together' movement in
Wayne county.