The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1921-05-02
BLESSING May
Be APPOINTED
COMMISSIONER
Danville Man Seems to Have
Edge for Place on Public
Service Commission Not
Active Politician.
SCHOOLS CONSIDERED

BY PALLADIUM CORRESPONDENT
INDIANAPOLIS, May 2.-While
number of men are being mentioned
for appointment to the public service
commission by the governor the best
opinion is that Edgar Blessing. of Dan
Vile will receive the appointment pro-
vided he will take it. At least those
who indulge in gossip in such matters
believe that Blessing stands better
show for the place than others who
have been mentioned
The governor some time ago dis
cussed the proposition with Blessing.
The governor is said to have high
opinion of Blessing as an attorney and
as a man and Blessing has the addi-
tional advantage of not having been
very actively identified with p litics.
1t is known that the governor is not
unaware of the fact that he can easily
give the impression that he is loading
boards and public offices with poll
ticians. A few politicians scattered
about can easily give the administra-
tion the political tinge. The governor
has heard a great deal of criticism be-
cause of his appointment of Fred Rob
inson, of Indianapolis as secretary of
h e state purchasing committee,
largely because he appointed a man
who took such leading part in the
preceding political campaign.
Others Mentioned.
Among the others who have been
mentioned for the service commission
are Don P Strobe, of Kokomo; John
H. Edwards, of Mitchell, and Oscar
Rats, of Paoli. While none of these
three is exactly known as a politician.
it is true that all of them have been
more or less in politics.
John H. Edwards has been a pol1ti-
cal possibility for good while: He
was one of the leaders in the legisla-
ture when J. Frank Hanly was gov
ernor and last year Edwards was a
candidate for the nomination of lieu
tenant-governor. but was defeated by
Emmett F. Branch, of Martinsville.
ton Edwards was in Indianapolis dur
ing legislative sessions and was the
legal advisor of Governor Goodrich.
Rats has been in the legislature for
J a long time and at the last session
made successful contest for the Re-
publican leadership of the senate.
Strobe is young man and has not
been particularly active in politics,
but he did take hand in the fight
over the organization of the legisla-
ture at the last session. For time
he was prospective candidate for the
Republican leadership in the senate
All of the men are attorneys and it
is said that the Governor intends to
appoint an attorney TO the commits
sion place. But Blessing is the at
torney. who is possibly freest from
POLITICAL tinge.
School Survey Coming.
Governor McCray did not appoint a
commission asst week to make an
educational survey Of the state, but
lie did take up the question with a
number of lea ding educators, among
them w. a. Mills, of Hanover College
w. F.. Stone. of Purdue university; w
l.. Bryan, of Indiana university and
Frank Wallace, superintendent Of the
Putnam county schools.
That these men are interesting
themselves ir the question seems to
give assurance that the work in hand
will be done thoroughly. They urged
that immediate action be taken and il
is understood that at an early date
Tie governor will name the members
nf the commission 1t would not be
surprising if some or all of the men
who discussed the question with him
viii be made members of the commits
SION. But it is understood also thai
there will be at least one woman or
the commission
Supervises Richmond.
That Governor McCray does not al
ways overlook political bet was
shown in his appointment of William
lIendricksOn. Of Connersville. to be {
deputy state factory Inspector. and tt
have supervision over Richniond, Cen
rersville, Rrcokville, Shelbyville, Tel
City. Lawrenceburg and some othe1
cities Hendrickson is said to bt
identified with what is known rs tht
Watson -McCray faction of the part
and it is understood that Daniel Moore
Of Bedford, who made way for Hen
Erickson left his position by request
While much is said ABOUT the appoint
lnent5of politicians to important place:
on boards and commissions and th'
impression sometimes gains currenc,
that it is in this way that politics il
played. those who have watcher devel
tnments through various administra
tionS, know that it is the traveii11:
inspectors-the factory inspectors. tn
oil inspectors and otllers-that reall.
count in the political game. This i
true because the inspectors travel owe
the state and cover much territory an,
have an excellent opportunity to kee!
in touch with political conditions.