Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 170, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1911 — WILL R. WOOD IS WILLING TO SUCCEED TOM MARSHALL. [ARTICLE]

WILL R. WOOD IS WILLING TO SUCCEED TOM MARSHALL.

Lafayette Senator Announces That Nomination tot Chair Will Be ’/ Acceptable. Lafayette, Ifid., July 19.— “>i would like tobe,Governor of Indiana,” said. State Senator Will R. Wood, in reply to a question, “and I would not mind going after the nomination. I have studied the situation pretty carefully as to available men. If I may be so bold, I win add that I feel I have a fair chance to land the nomination. “As a republican, however, .1 feel like putting my own desires and plans aside for the time, while we get together for the right kind of reorganization, the right kind of state platform, and get started on the right foot for the race that is ahead of the party. “Here in Tippecanoe and surrounding counties the republicans are in better shape, 1 take it, than in some other quarters. We have been republicans right through, as the return will show. 4’. “We feel that President Taft has strengthened himself with the whole country very materially, and that he is going along well at this time. We agree that Mr. Tpft is to be our national leader in 1812. This is not the original Taft neighborhood, but Taft is acceptable for the work he has done, and we are glad to acknowledge his good, -work and to get behind him for the coming campaign. “Mr. Fairbanks has his friends_here. Mr. Beveridge is strong in this part of the state. The Roosevelt idea has been one of the most powerful forces locally for many years. But we have always been republicans, beyond our leadership preferences. As we look at it now, Tippecanoe republicans are prepared to stand by Taft and his policies with practical unanimity. “There are some republicans in the Tenth District who do not believe the Indiana republican prospect wa.’ brightened very considerably as a result of the -recent Taft visit to the state. President Taft, we feel, gained largely by his contact with the people and by the speeches he made. But as for the local Hoosier situation, there are some doubts as to the effects of

the functions attendant on the Taft visit to the stat. It may be some of the boys have taken things top seriously. . <.V •‘There always are ill-judged and selfish attempts by individuals to get within the circle of reflected official glory. That is inevitably. In my opinion, republicans over the state are now inclined to laugh over the politics played by some of the anxious ones. So certain episodes will be passed by lightly and probably will be forgotten unleqp there is more of the same kind of politics. “Talk against reciprocity has died down here. There, is no more of it, We have faith in Mr. Taft, and we are glad to give his measure its chance. Put in. early operation, it will be a positive asset to the republican party in the coming campaign. That is the way we look at it.

“In the state we have a big advantage over the democrats. My position in the state senate has given me an opportunity to follow closely the record of the democratic governor and the democratic legislature. “Aside from the extravagance that has crept back into state management under the democrats; aside from the fact that the democrats are on the point of increasing the state tax levy, after their loud play for economy, there is the proposed new constitution •on their hands. "I have never been able to fathom or to understand the political folly that forced such an issue. It appears there was an earnest desire on the part of somebody to give the people a side issue to talk about while some disagreeable pledges were being redeemed. It strikes me that the proposed new constitution, its substance and its method of introduction, taken with the plans for stuffing it down the throat of the populace, whether or no, all or nothing, have served to put the democrats of Indiana in one of the worst predicaments that party ever has been in. / “There is no doubt that some of the wiser leaders in the democratic party have been more than willing, and even extremely anxious to let go of the proposed new constitution, and turn their hands to anything else but the one-night-stand business of revising ths organic law. But they can not let go. The thing Is charged, and the current is on. “When the people get the full meaning, of the proposed new constitution, its hidden provisions and inevitable effects, there will be such a revulsion against the democratic party as Indiana has not seen In many years. “It la the business of the republican