Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 January 1916 — W.L WOOD ASKS ANOTHER ELECTION [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

W.L WOOD ASKS ANOTHER ELECTION

Will Go Before Republicans of New District and Seek Return to State Legislature/ <* j * . * \ _ r ' . Ji'i-xV-i 11 1 ; W. Logan Wood, of Parr, representative of White and Jasper counties in the legasalture of 1915, has decided after some consideration to seek the republican nomination in the new district, composed of Jasper, Newton, and Benton counties, and The Republican with his approval makes the announcement that he will he a candidate at the primary to be held on March 7th. The entrance of Mr. Wood into the race requires from The Republican a frank the slight differences that occurred near the close of the last term between Representative Wood and the editor of The Republilican arid which caused this paper to criticise a hill which he fathered relating to tax subsidies for railroads. A discussion of this kind can be made freely to the public because it has followed a thoroughly frank discussion between Representative Wood and'the writer. Mr. Wood is not altogether satisfied with the subsidy measure and some of the alterations, notably the one that provided for 75 resident free-holders signing a petition for a subsidy election and (becoming personally responsible for the expenses, thereof. He -knows that in respect to granting a majority of the people of any township a right to exercise their desire in such matters the bill disfranchises them in townships where there are not far in excess of 75 resident land owners. And he also knows that it is not fair to burden those progressive persons

who lend their names to a plan of securing a railroad for their communities with the burden of the expense for the proposition which has no greater benefit for them than it has for every realty owner in the township and that the fair method would have been o require the promoters to put bp the cash for the flection. The Republican charged last spring that Representative Wood had Upeen influenced by Editor Babcock, whose motive was that of opposing local efforts to procure am interurban arilroad toy having the measure passed. Lengthy discussion of this measure is not necebsary. Amy (bill that affords relief, and the old law needed changes to safe-guard taxpayers against annoyance by frequent elections, is commendable, but any measure that has the effect of retarding progress is detrimental and in-his efforts to honestly adjust the bad features of the old law he was influenced by dishonest scheming and ■unwittingly fell a victim to the wiles of one or two who were personally interested in the ! result <attained without regard to the means employed. The Republican is satisfied that Representative Wood will not again permit himself to be led into supporting any measure that does not have his unqualified endorsement. With the exception of the one measure about which this paper criticised Representative Wood we approve most of his work in the legislature. Most, we have said, not all, hut we do not regard it proper for a constituency to tie the hands of a representative as a free agent and Mr. Wood showed some independence in his voting, basing his action upon his personal conviction.. Taken aM in tall, we believe that he made a very good representative. He never missed a roll call of the house and studIbusly considered every mafterbf /legislation that was presented. He came out of the house well informed and with ideas that it takes a session to fosttulate and which will make him valuable to his constituency at (. • ' 13 ■ /

the next session of the general assembly. Abetting the advantage to be of service which he first terra gave him he has (been pursuing a course of study and investigation during the months since the legislature adjourned that will make him a very useful member in the session that will convene in January of next year and which will doubtless be republican and will support the policies of a republican governor. Representative Wood realizes that road legislation is of the greatest importance and he has made somewhat of a study of the Ohio and other state laws and is' embracing them with ideas of his own and will probably introduce a road measure at the next session. There is nothing in which the agricultural sections of the state are more vitally interested in and it is important that meft with concrete ideas be sent to the next general assembly. Believing that Mr. Wood has the necessary qualifications and will be diligent in his honest representation of bis constituency The Republican gives him endorsement to Jasper county voters and to the voters of Newton and Benton with which we will be associated in the future or until another gerrymander gets a crack at us. Mr. Wood will make a vigorous campaign, will speak in every nook and comer of each county and will be an ardent advocate of the plans to be generally adopted by republicans to rescue Indiana from democratic mismanagement. He will have a message .for the voters that all will want -to hear and they, will find him abletto cogently call to their attention matter of state need and the way to meet them. ■Newton and Benton county papers will announce his name to the voters during the next week or two. So far as known there will be no other candidate in the field.

Of Parr, who will again-' make the race for State Representative.

W. L. WOOD,