The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-08-24
BESCHER wins
CITY PRIMARY;
LEADS TICKET
Nominees Platform Of Eff
cheney Appeals to Voters
Had No Paid Workers, Only
Voluntary Organization.
STRAYER IS SECOND

Baltz A. Bescher, city controller. was
nominated for mayor on the Repuoh-
can ticket out of field of eight car
didates at the primary election Tues
day
Bescher received a total vote of
1853 which gave him plurality over
Frank Strayer. who ran second, of 7l3.
Strayer received .045 votes.
Or. w. w. Zimmerman, present in
cumbent in the mayors office. ran :;
poor third. receiving but 71S votes.
Carried of 8 Wards.
The city controller carried six out
of the eight wards of the city. h
also showed a plurality in 10 of the
81 precincts of the city. The vote
piled UP by Mr. Bescher was the heav-
lest polled on the ticket. His vote was
only five less than the combined vote
OF Strayer and Zimmerman.
Other candidates for the mayors
office finished as follows: Esther Grit
fin White. 451: John T. Peltz. 1875; c.
F. Potter, 126; Ora r. Mitchell, so; 5.
K. Morgan, 46
Steqman Leads.
The four candidates for councilman
at.large who were nominated out o:
the list OF ten candidates, with TIL"
number of votes received, we're.
Edward n. Stegman. 1,790; Albert j.
Ford. 1,474: Oscar C. Williams, 1920,
and Frank Waidele, 1.21S.
The following ward councilmen were
nominated by the Republicans in the
wards where contest was carried on ::
Fourth ward, George G. Steinkamp:
Fifth ward, John Starr; Sixth ward
Louis Fahlsing; Seventh ward, Frank
Benn Eighth ward. Arthur Smith
The Democrats nominated F. A. Brown
in the Eighth ward, the only place a
contest for a city Office was carried on
by them.
Oppose Bescher.
Bescher was opposed by most OF the
''old line" politicians. He made his
fight on the grounds OF his fitness fol-
Office because of his long connection
with the city. having served two terms
az city clerk. and one term as city
controller.
Bescher had no paid workers. The
voluntary organization which backed
him in his fight contended throughout
with Mr.. Bescher, that his oualifica
tons we're such as TO attract the vote
to him without political machine
tactics.
Zimmerman Loses Out.
The defeat of DR. Zimmerman, who
has held the reins of the city for the
past % years. with but two tern
executions, was expected by mos
political followers.
Returns from the polls during tht
early part Of Tuesday which indicated
a light vote. were reversed during tht
afternoon when the majority of tht
voters were cast.
The defeat of Dr. w ". Zimmerman
is the first time in his political caree
that he has been defeated in the Re
publican primaries Twice during tn
past 25 years DR.. Zimmerman has beel
defeated at the general election, b,
Dr. Richard Schillinger, Democrat
and Will Robbins, Progressive.
Bescher Has Experience.
Bescher's rise in city politics ha
been rapid during recent years. Twelv
years ago the Republican nominee wa
boiler-maker at the Gaar-Scott plant
He entered politics as a candidate 70
city clerk and was elected. He wa
reelected four years later. He wa
appointed city controller by DR.. Zin
norman four years ago.
Tuesdays election was featured by
quiet interest throughout the city. n
great discussion of the qualification
of the various candidates was hear
over the city during the campaign.
No disturbances at the polls wer
reported, and returns we're compile
without difficulty from all parts c
the city.