Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 208, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1910 — ROBERT M. VANATTA LANDS SUPERIOR JUDGE NOMINATION. [ARTICLE]

ROBERT M. VANATTA LANDS SUPERIOR JUDGE NOMINATION.

Republicans of Grant and Delaware ( Counties After Deadlock Lasting Many Honrs Nominate Yanatta. ■" ■ ■■ I II Robert M. Vanatta, son of Mr. and Mrs. John R. Vanatta, of Rensselaer, was nominated for superior judge of the district composed of Grant and Delaware counties, at an early hour this, Thursday, morning, on the 302nd ballot, after a deadlock lasting many hours. Mr. Vanatta, the successful nominee, was raised in Rensselaer. After re-* ceiving his education he taught school at Remington and other points. La’er he located in Marion and took up the practice of law, and his success in tbe profession led to his nomination today. He has hosts of friends here, who will rejoice in his success. Fairmount, Ind., Aug. 31.—The Republican convention here today, called for the purpose of nominating a candidate for superior judge of the Grant and Delaware circuit, was slow in getting down to business and was soon in a persistent deadlock, with George W. Cromer, of Delaware getting 20% votes, 14% delegates from Delaware county voting solidly for Frederick F. McClellan, 32 from Grant county supporting Robert M. Vanatta, and 4 votes going with regularity to Charles T. Parker, of this city. The monotony of the situation was unbroken. McClellan and Cromer, of Delaware, refused to yield any point of vantage and the fight continued. Vanatta was within 4 votes of victory from the start, but seemed unable to control the situation or the solid delegation of his county, as had been predicted he would do. Charles T. Parker, with 3 delegates from his township and 1 from Marion, trailed the leaders in the hope of a break. After 7 o'clock frequent recesses were announced by Chairman C. C Ball, of Muncie, who was elected over D. A. Lambert, of Delaware, in the hope that the delegates might get together and end the struggle. ” The ensuing roll call invariably showed the same result and at 8 o’clock the delegates had settled in their seats, hungry and supperless, for a prolonged siege. Avoiding the task of making resolutions, and limiting nomination speeches to five minutes, routine business was taken qp after the committee on rules and permanent organization was deadlocked for an hour and a half, the contest being carried to the convention floor, resulting in the adoption of’ the plan of open voting of counties. Later an attempt was made by Chairman Clarence Dearth, of Delaware, to break this rule, but his resolution was lost 48% to 22%. Other cfficers of the convention were Senator E. H. Wolcott, of Marion, temporary chairman; Uz. McMurtie, of Marion, secretary. On the 123rd ballot Vanatta gained one vote 1 at Parker’s expense, the vote being Parker 3, Vanatta 33, Cromer and McClellan unchanged. The 133 d ballot was the same as the 123rd. Chairman Dearth, of Delaware, at the close of the 185th ballot again attempted to change the rules to permit of a secret ballot, Grant county opposing vigorously; The resolution was permanently laid upon the table by a roll 'call vote in -ske same manner as previous efforts of the kind. The 186th ballot found Chairman Dearth, of Delaware, and Chairman Hogin, of Grant, sitting in opposite corners of the hall announcing the vote of their delegates as “same” and Chairman Ball drawling the customary “same.” An effort, short lived, was started at 9:45 to stampede the convention for Parker. It was rumored that Grant county would propose the name of J. Frank Charles, of Marion, as a compromise candidate. All kinds of combinations were spurned by followers of rival candidates. There was no ballot after the 212th for fifteen minutes. The delegates grew restless. Fairmount's three delegates refused to support Vanatta on account of an effort on the part of a Grant county delegate to eliminate Parker, who was the low man, from the race early this afternoon. Parker was then urged by the other three candidates to stick. The balloting resumed at 10 o’clock, when Parker became the favorite of the'galleries. The next ballot was unchanged.

Theodore Roosevelt, President Taft and Senator Beveridge were cheered loudly following eulogies by W. C. Ball, of Muncie, Judge St. John, of Marion, and Temporary Chairman E. H. Wolcott, of Marion, during the organization. This is the first Joint convention in Grant and Delaware counties for the office of superior judge, the district having formerly been composed of Grant and Howard counties, and the office is now held by Judge Pat H. Elliott, of Marion, a democrat, who defeated P. B. Manley, of Marion, four years ago. At 10:30 o’clock galleries were being deserted, leaving the sleepy delegates in sole charro of the hall. The balloting was slow and at long intervals. At' 11 o’clock the spectators were sleeping in all parts of the high school building, where the convention is being held, determined to be on hand at the finish.