The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-02-12
~ w. r. poUNDsroNE.


With the primar..' election three
weeks distant candidates for places on
the various offices on the Republican
and Democratic tickets In Wayne
county will get down to real serious
work the first Of next week. for the
campaign is to be one Of the liveliest
witnessed in the county in many
years.
Wayne county people in the Republic
an and Democratic congressional con-
tests. Not In many years have there
been congressional contests waged in
the sixth district to rival the two now
In progress in spectacular features.
In the Democratic contest John M.
Lontz of Richmond has thrown down
the gauntlet to Finly H. Gray, who for
six years has represented the district
in congress, and the Lontz candidacy
has made such great progress in the
past two weeks that Democratic lead
ers throughout the district are now
predicting substantial Lontz victory
on March z.
lontz Fights Hard.
Lontz is carrying on a vigorous pub
licity campaign throughout the district
and has been active in getting about
the eight counties meeting the voters.
Reports received indicate that he has
made a decidedly favorable impress
ion and has been cutting into the Gray
ranks heavily.
Gray announced recently that he
would remain in Washington and con-
duct letter writing campaign. 1t is
understood, however, that his adher-
ants are so alarmed over the progress
OF the Lontz candidacy that they have
urged him to get back to the district
and onto the stump as soon as possible
or bid good bye to the job he now
holds.
Reports from various counties indi-
cate that Gray appointees are actively
working in his interests. Judge George
Gray of Connersville, has also taken
the stump for his brother. At first
Lontz was attacked as foe of labor"
but this line of attack was abandoned
when it was discovered that the en-
ployes of the Lontz factory were
among the best paid and best treated
workmen in the state THE best
Democrat in the world" remarked one
of the workmen in the Lontz lawn
mower factory when approached by
men investigating the authenticity of
the reports which had been circulated
against the Richmond manufacturer.
The workmen in question impaired the
information that although an unskilled
laborer he was making on an average of
$40 week. When some fifteen other
workmen told of their contented lot
and kindly treatment the foe to
labor" attack was called Off Now the
Gray campaign leaders are circulating
the report that only "sore heads" dis
appointed office seekers, are interest
ed in the Lontz candidacy.
comstock Opposes Lynch.
A battle royal is being waged be-
tween Judge D. w. Comstock of Rich
mond, and p. J. Lynch of New Castle.
for the Republican congressional nomi-
nation. Both men have been active in
getting about the district.
C. w. Stivers of Liberty, was in this
race for one brief day, then withdrew
declaring the contest between Lynch
and Comstock was too hot for him to
remain in the fighting. In withdraw
ing from the contest Stivers announc-
ed that he intended to support the
Comstock candidacy.
Lynch is asserting in his jaunts
through the district that he is entitled
to denomination because of the excelI-
ent showing he made two years ago
when he was the Republican congress
ional nominee
Recall Last Convention.
With equal effect the Comstock sup
porters are asserting that If nominated
Lynch could not be elected, pointing
out that two years ago he only carried