Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 266, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 November 1915 — OPTIMISM PREVAILS THROUGHOUT INDIANA [ARTICLE]

OPTIMISM PREVAILS THROUGHOUT INDIANA

Recent Elections Point to National and State Success In Elections To Be Held In 1916.

Indianapolis, Nov. 9.—The spirit of optimism which has characterized the republican party in Indiana during the last several weeks has been intensified by the results of the recent elections. Party leaders find much to encourage them in the coming conflict. The large republican gains in Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey and elsewhere is interpreted to mean that American voters are turning to the republican party for relief from the present industrial depression, and will vote for the restoration of a protective tariff in 1916. The results of the recent elections has also stimulated renewed vigor and activity among the candidates seeking nominations on the republican state ticket. During the last few days a number of candidates have opened headquarters in Indianapolis and others are planning to do so in the near future. It is interesting to observe that the Columbia Club has become the center of activity during the preliminary stages of the campaign. Around the club lobby every day are seen candidates, campaign managers, boosters and leaders from all parts of the state who are forming the habit of coming to the Columbia Club to get in touch with the real political activities of the day. These leaders do not represent any particular candidate. The policy of the club is to refrain from encouraging any activity which would result in developing sentiment for any particular candidate in advance of the time when the nominations will be made. The club will be a potent factor iir republican politics in the coming campaign. The membership has now reached over 3,200 and is growing each week. At the meeting of the board of directors this week 62 new members were elected. In this list were a number of prominent republicans and business men in Fort Wayne, Peru, Logansport and other points in the northern part of the state. The club is now the second largest republican club west of New York and is regarded as one of the most powerful organizations of the kind in the United States. The campaign for new members which has been* underway for several months, will continue indefinitely. It is predicted that the membership will be increased to 5,000 before the close of the 1916 campaign.