Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 169, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 July 1910 — Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 [ADVERTISEMENT]

WHIT TO WRITE IS THE PUZZLE

Democrats Open Publicity Bureau to Keep Party Secrets. BW’T DARE DISCUSS ISSUES Writers For Democratic Frees at Loes For Texts—Liquor laeuo Live Wire, •nd Tariff Freeonta Knotty Pointe— Advisory Board Wrestles With Problem Without Suoceee Taggart Controls Bureau but Cant Furnish Safe Dope. [ladUaapolia CorrMpoadeace. ] The Democratic state central committee has chosen its publicity bureau superintendent in the person of Guernsey Van Riper, recently city editor of the Indianapolis Star. It is understood Mr. Van Riper is to be paid >6O per week during the campaign. He is to be “advised” in matters of policy by State Chairman Stokes Jackson, Sam Ralston, of Lebanon, George Beebe of Anderson, and Ed. G. Hoffman, of Fort Wayne. Mr. Hoffman will represent Steve Fleming and the Tom Marshall interests. He will be tremendously in the‘minority. All the other men who are to “advise” the publicity bureau, are strong Tkggart followers. The funds for conducting the publicity bureau are to be provided via Tom Taggart, Joe Fanning, Gus Belmont and the others, from sources such as fed the Democratic party cause In the days of A. B. Parker. This is the cheering word sent forth by the Taggart and it is probably true, in some degree. It will take some time for Superintendent Van Riper and his helpers to square away and get down to work. The advisory committee has the publicity bureau on its hands and ready for work. But the advisory committee of Democrats does not know what to say to Indiana voters on the vital issues. It is significant of the sure grip Tom Taggart keeps on the Democratic editors that the editors, though met at French Lick to organize their press bureau, left the matter ove” to be done at a Denison hotel secret caucus, under guidance of Taggart, himself, and according to his own plans. It Is known that the conference discussed ways and means of presenting the Issues of the day 'to the people, •nd it la known further that the advisers to the publicity bureau adjourned without reaching any sort of conetusion as to methods or arguments. Especially was the meeting topsy-tur-vy on the liquor question. Sam Ralston, of Lebanon, being called on the earpet for permitting Boone county Democrats to pass resolutions repudiating the Democratic state platform, was forced to acknowledge that he was utterly powerless to block local sentiment as to existing temperance law. Stokes Jackson was free to admit that he had been unable to rally Hancock county Democrats . for the state platform. How to stand on the Taggartlzed state platform, and from that position appeal with any hope of success to the rank and file of Democrats, Is -the big puzzle confronting the Democratic publicity bureau. It has been found that it will be disastrous to attack existing liquor laws. The tariff question presents serious difficulties to Democrats this year. They talk of the high cost of living, but they do not dare to go to the Indiana farmer with arguments against good prices for products of the farm. The state platform straddled the issue of protection, and campaign demands for a “tariff for revenue only” wNI be quickly met by the words of the Democratic platform, which call for a “tariff for public purposes,” which is an entirely different thing. The bureau cannot whoop things up for Tom Marshall, for that might injure Harmon and enlarge the Marshall presidential boomlet. So there you •ra. Pending a decision as to earnpalgn policy, it may be expected that the Marshall administration will be “played up” more or less for awhile.

REMEMBERS BENEFACTOR.

George W. Duncan, just named to be postmaster at Greenfield, twenty-five years ago appointed W. O. Barnard deputy prosecutor for Henry county. Mr. Duncan then was prosecutor for Hancock and Henry.' He gave Mr. Barnard a start Now Mr. Barnard, risen to be a member of congress, appoints his old time friend and helper to a postofflce. There is something pleasing and commendable in this sort sf remembrance.

HOOSIKR PROMOTED.

Charles F. Jones, of Brooksville, Ind., has been appointed to a place as solicitor in the department of justice at Washington, D. C. Mr. Jones has been representing the United States before the Spanish Treaty Claims commission, and there saved the government some $63,000,000. Which is a record worth considering, especially when made by a Hoosier Republican. Hoosier Goes to Washington »nest Elkin of Bowlin* Green, Ind., Inn gone to Washington to totes a tftoee in the census digsrttol....