The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-12-15

If Jackson is a candidate. Charles
w Jewett, Ralph Lemcke and their
friends will join Mayor Shank in an
effort to beat him for the Republican
nomination, is the word that has been
passed around.
First signs Of an impending coali-
ton came when Shank named Leo K.
Fesler, county auditor, as treasurer
of his campaign Fesler, while always
a personal friend of the mayor, has
been considered a part Of the Jewett-
Lemcke faction and has received the
support Of publicity agencies friendly
! to that faction.
Against Jackson
Leaders of the Jewett- Lemcke group
are understood to have informed
Shank and his friends that they are
/ for him IF 1t come to a fight between
/ him and Jackson" Jackson has been
| considered a candidate for Governor
I almost since the last election. He
| has been busy for many months build
| ing political fences. Jackson will
/ have the support of the Ku-Klux
/ Khan. It is expected, while Shank has
/ been In open opposition to the Khan.
! The combination of these two fac
/ tons Of the party may lead to COM
plications making working agreements
/ necessary. Local politicians are look
/ ing forward to the next mayoralty
/ election. It is in such elections that
the two elements have been most bit
terly opposed.
! 1t has long been reported Fesler
I lgtra fr ter 2 &c
bic he would be satisfactory TO the
two elements. On the other hand
Joseph L. Hogue, city controller. is
said to have similar ambitions. He is
distinctly a Shank man.
| Want Hand in Election
! 1t has been reported that the Jewett-
! Lemcke faction expects to be allowed
a hand in the selection of the next
! Republican candidate for mayor in
event Of Shank's election as Governor.
Mayor Shank in discussing the sit
uation denied he had any candidate
for mayor or that there had been
any agreement so far as the next city
election IS concerned.
Il am not for anybody for mayor
Shank said. I believe in giving all
the boys a chance. II anything like
that is settled it will be after I am
in the Governors office"
A third faction in local Republican
politics still is to be reckoned with
This is the Coffin-Dodson faction,
headed by George V. Coffin and
Charles o. Dodson. This element is
strong in the courthouse and it has
hof
Collins of the Criminal Court might
be a candidate for mayor acceptable
to this faction.
Former Opponents
The wide division between the
Jewett-Lemcke faction and the Shank
faction became most apparent in
1917 when Jewett and Shank were
opposing candidates for the Re
publican nomination for Mayor
Jewett defeated Shank and Shank
bolted the party. running as an in
dependent candidate. Jewett succeeded |
in being elected by a narrow margin. |
The division continued in county |
and State politics and became pro |
nounced again in the last city cleo |
ton. Thomas Carr Howe was the |
choice of the Jewett- Lemcke faction !
in the primary and Shank again was
a candidate. Shank succeeded in OBJ |
tanning the nomination and the Jew
ett-Lemcke element switched much of |
it's support to Boyd NJ. Ralston, |
Democrat. AS a result, Shank sue
ceeded in obtaining a large part of |
the Democratic vote, and goodly sec |
ton of the Republican vote leaving |
Ralston only the Jewett-Lemcke Re
publicans and the Democrats who vote |
the party ticket as a matter of habit |