Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-03-05

Hon. James K. Risk of Lafayette and
Lebanon, whose candidacy for the
democratic nomination for governor Oh
Indiana has been announced, is receiving
from all parts Of the state letters prof.
fering support, and, occasionally, criti-
cism.- Mr.. Risk, like all other men, en-
joys expression of confidence and prof
fers of support, and he is not slow in
showing his appreciation of such. He
also courts criticism, provided 1t Is hon
est and sincere.
The Delphi Citizen Times, under the
management OF Henry B. Wilson, with
Col. A. B. Champion of the National Sol
diers' home at Marion, as editor, and his
daughter, Mrs. Mindwell c. Wilson. as
acting editor, in its issue Of last week,
took rap at Mr.. Risks candidacy, under
the caption. risk as Candidate" The
Citizen-Times editorial and Mr., Risks
reply follow:
CITIZEN-TIMES
EDITORIAL.
James K. Risk of Lafayette has de-
clared his intention to become candi-
date for the nomination for governor on
the democratic ticket. He starts of his
candidacy in true Risk style by lam
basting so-called democratic machines
that he has in the past thrown over on
the junk heap. It would be quite an
party should nominate him, but the real
business Of the democrats this year is
to choose a man whom the people will
elect as governor, and with Mr.. Risk
as the leader Of the party, would be a
long way from occupying a seat IN the
governors chair. Mr.. Risk Is a man of
strong convictions, as he states, but
combined with strong convictions, must
be enough diplomacy to command re-
spect of men with opinions conflicting
with his own. Mr.. Risk has many warm
friends who VIII support him, but to
be elected governor will require every
democratic vote and some from those
who in the past have voted the repub-
lican ticket. Mr.. Risk does not measure
up to the task as we see 1t.
In making the statement OF our views
OF Mr. Risk as a vote getter, We do so
with the best interests Of the democratic
party at heart In past years there has
been too much laxity in the primary cleo
tions and the people did not take the
pains they should in learning the quail
hcatfons of candidates. The congressional
candidate Of two years ago was a lesson
that should not be too quickly forgotten
and we must remember that the man
we nominate is the man who Is TO be the
candidate this fall. Every candidate
should be considered as TO his quaihca-
lions for filing the Office to which he
aspires and then as 10 his ability to get
the votes necessary to elect.
Mr.. Risks reply:
Lebanon, Ind, March I, 1920.
Carroll County Citizens Times, Delphi,
Ind Attention Mindwell C. Wilson.
Acting Editor.
Gentlemen have just had placed in
my hands an editorial appearing In the
Carroll County Citizens Times, headed
"Risk As Candidate" I am exceptionally
well pleased to have the Times express its
opinion as TO my position.
admit with pleasure that I have
criticised what you refer to as the $50
called democratic machine" have not
only criticised It, but 1 have tried. and
In fact was able, as a member OF the
democratic state committee for four
years, TO introduce and have adopted by
the state committee some reforms.
In 1906. the democratic state COM
mittee pledged itself by resolutisd
that the democratic state committee
would keep It's hands of of nominations,
and would insist on every democrat
entering a primary or convention hay
ing a square deal.
just prior TO tho reorganization of
the state committee in 1908 Samuel NJ.
halston, stokes jackson, Gilbert Hen
dren and a few other men, met In a
room Of the Grand hotel, and prepared
a written agreement which provided
that Mr.. Jackson was 10 be made state
chairman; Mr. Hendren vice chairman,
that the state OF Indiana was to be
divided into two districts with Mr..
Jackson as dispenser OF the political
patronage in one OF those districts, and
Mr.. Hendren TO be the dispenser Of
political patronage in the other district.
and that Mr.. Ralston was to be the
democratic nominee for governor. This