The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-12-11
RUMOR COFFIN
READY TO QUIT
MACHINE HELM
Hawkins Also Reported on
Point of Retiring from
G. 0. P. Leadership.
MILD 'SHAKEUP' limited
County Council Expected to
Function With Only
Six Members.

Two important county political
moves were being rumored at the
courthouse today.
One was that an effort to stave
off reforming of the Republican
county organization, considered by
county leaders, is materializing.
The other was that the county
council probably will be composed
of only six members until the close
of 1881.
The reorganization report of the
county Republicans came after
series of impromptu conferences, ii
was reported. These conferences,
rumor has it, have been attended
by Charles Riddle, board of works
member; United States marshal ALT
Meloy; Frank Hawkins, Twelfth
ward Republican chairman; George
Snider, county commissioner and
representative of the G. o. Dod-
son-Harry Dunn county faction that
has opposed George v. Coffin, Re
publican district chairman, and the
OIBdIllAdJlOn IOr years.
Rumor Coffin May Quit
According to the word that has
found its way into political chan
nels, the deal that is being consid-
cred is that Coffin, who has been
Ill since the election, will resign and
Snider will succeed him.
1t also is to follow, according to
reports, that Sheriff Omer Haw-
kins, county chairman, who also is
i'll, may follow Coffin in resigning
and that Dunn may be picked for
the place.
The purpose Of this, as outlined
by observers, is to consolidate the
leaders of the county factions. Cof-
fin and the organization are putting
up their hands to ward off the blow
they are expected to receive when
Governor-Elect Harry G. Leslie
starts appointing state officials.
The county group felt the state
house sighting" when Wayne En-
melman, secretary of the county or
ganlzation, was not appointed Sec
rotary of the public service COM
mission. Zimmerman had the support
OF the Coffin Hawkins faction.
No Help from Leslie
Coffin made no special effort to
support Leslie, and it already has
been said Leslie will not consider
himself indebted to the Marion
county faction.
George o. Hutsell, county clerk
and Fourth Ward chairman, re-
Gently announced that he was in
favor of a change in county faction
leaders. He said he wanted district
and county chairmen who had not
been identified with political ma
chimes.
The talked-of move, as outlined,
would be purely a Coffin Hawkins
step to put up a new appearance.
observers declared.
When informed of the report.
Hutsell said he had not heard of it.
Il am not in the county political
organization" he said. "You hardly
could expect any word of such sit
uation to reach me. However. I
still favor placing new men in
charge Of county Republican poll
ties
Loses Member Jan.
The council move represents a.
situation not new in Marion county,
The county organization will lose
Its seventh member when John E.
Shearer becomes county commits
Sioner Jan. l. This will remove vot-
ing strength from the Coffin fac
ton, leaving this crowd with three
and the Dodson camp with three
representatives
Under the law, a meeting must
be called to fill the vacancy within
ten days after it occurs. It is ex-
pected that if such meeting is held.
the council will ignore the voting
matter entirely or deadlock over a
possible candidate for the place.
George Montgomery, council pres
ldent, said the council could func-
ton for the remainder of it's pres
ent term with six members. He in
timated the "only important bust
ness facing the county within the
next few months would be voting
on the 1929 budget and all members
would ballot on that.