The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-06-23

Wayne county Republican leaders
are today sarcastically commenting on
the statement of James E. Watson.
published Monday in the Indianapolis
Star, that he had retired from public
life and has been taking no part in
political affairs.
They openly charge him with hav-
ing dictated the nomination OF +. j.
Lynch, of New Castle, for congress
man, which they frankly assert has
defeated all their hopes of restoring
Wayne county to the Republican col
umn, because their county ticket must
enter the field tainted with Watson
ism, which in Wayne county stands
for all that is worst in boss rule.
To refute Mr. Watson's assertion
that he has retired from active poll
tics, proof was offered by Wayne coun-
ty Republican leaders today to support
their charges that he dominated the
Republican congressional convention
at Cambridge City last week.
Freeman's Story.
Perry J. Freeman, a Richmond at
torney, for years an influential Re
publican leader in Wayne county, to-
day told of an interesting conference
he had with Mr.. Watson before the
Mr. Freeman said he retired to
hotel room with the eX-cOngressman
and urged the nomination of Judge
D. w. Comstock. Of Richmond, setting
forth the fact that the former appel
late jurist was a man who could COM
mand the support of voters of all po-
litical parties in Wayne county, and
that if Republican congressman from
the Sixth district was to be elected,
it was essential that there be a Re
publican victory in Wayne county. Mr..
Freeman also informed Mr.. Watson
that Mr. Lynch had announced previ-
ously that he was willing to retire as
candidate in favor of Judge Com
stock
Watson Keeps Silent.
"Mr Watson did very little talking
during this conference" said Mr.. Free
man, but he told me that while he
was out of politics and had nothing to
do with the convention he was anXl-
Gus to have the right kind of a man
nominated for congressman, and that
he thought Mr.. Lynch was the best
man for the place. because he was
young and active and would be able
to make as aggressive campaign
as the Democratic candidate, Finly
Gray"
Mr. Watson made no comment when
Mr. Freeman vigorously informed
him that while he might have excellent
personal reasons for supporting Hen
ry county candidate against Wayne
county candidate. it was now time
for all party leaders to forget their
prejudices and make every sacrifice
Tor the good of the party. for whose
a, haI
Constock for Senate.
Mr. Freeman asserts that Mr.. Wat
son informed him that he had favored
Judge Comstock as the Republican
candidate for United States senator,
but when he had suggested the name
of the Richmond man to the state
committee he was informed that Hugh
TIL. Miller had been urged to accept
this nomination and had agreed to do
SO.
Edward Hollern, superintendent of
parks in Richmond, under the former
Republican administration. also told
today of his interview with MIR. Wat
son in Cambridge City last week. when
Hollern urged Mr.. Watson not to op-
pose the candidacy of Judg> Comstock.
He said Watson told him tc beat Finly
Gray a candidate who could employ
sary Then he said Judge Comstock
was too old to wage such a campaign.
but Lynch had the ability to do SO.
Matthews Sends IS. o. S."
Hollern also said that he had heard
County Clerk George Matthews urge
the nomination of Judge Comstock
when talking with Watson, and had
heard Matthews say. Jim. come to our
rescue" Hollern says that Watson
again made the statement that Judge
Comstock was too old and that man
of his age is never elected to con-
gress." Hollern also says he was pres
ent when Mr.. Lynch made his an
that he would withdraw
his candidacy in favor of Judge Com
stock.
Hollern says he told Watson that
he had heard he was in Cambridge