Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1910 — KERN NAMED FOR THE SENATE [ARTICLE]

KERN NAMED FOR THE SENATE

-After a Series of Surprises and Convention Sensations the Indiana Democratic State Convention Adopts Governor Marshall's* Idea For the Naming of United States Senator and Names a Ticket.

Indianapolis, April 29.- —Despite his earnest declaration that he was not a candidate for the convention’s indorsement for the United States senate, and over his protest against the use of his name in that connection, the Hon. John W. Kern of Indianapolis was yesterday named by acclamation, and amid a scene of wild enthusiasm that has probably never been equalled in historic old Tomlinson hall, the Democratic party’s choice to oppose the candidacy of Senator Albert J. Beveridge for re-election to the senate of the United States. This indorsement came at the end of a trying contest in which some of the best men in the party in Indiana were pitted and the great demonstration which marked the solution of a proposition which had for weeks been vexing the Democracy of Indiana as has few questions in its history, seemed convincing to the mere observer that the various elements which had been divided on the proposition had gotten together on an entirely satisfactory basis; Mr. Kern was not present to receive the plaudits of his party, having retired from the hall after telling the delegates that the use of his name in this connection had not been warranted by him, but the continued demonstration whiclj attended the announcement of the vote on the senatorial question must have been balm for whatever of disappointment Mr, Kern had felt at the result of the legislative caucus which sent Ben Shively to the Senate a year ago last January. The Governor Wins Out. Governor Marshall was also Indorsed by the convention’s acceptance of his proposition for the convention to name a candidate for the senate. Tom Taggart, if taken at his word—and all agreed that Mr. Taggart was sincere when he declared that he would rather see John Kern in the senate than to have a seat there himself —enjoyed his day of gratification, as did John Lamb, L. Ert Slack, Major Menzies, Joe Shea. Bob Miers, Dan Sims, Ed Becker, Ed Hoffman, John Adair and Sam Ralston, whose names had been presented for the senatorial indorsement, for in withdrawing in favor of Mr. Kern they each and all declared that party harmony and hope of success were dearer to them than any ambition for personal preferment. The delegates were pleased—their cheers Indicated that — hence it was a day of good cheer all around for Indiana Democracy. When the convention reconvened yesterday morning after having decided the night before to test out “the governor’s proposition,” the hall was packed as it has rarely been, and there was an air of the keenest expectancy over all. Under the rules the debate on the senatorial proposition was lifn ited to forty-five minutes the side. Judge J. E. McCullough of Indianapolis led the discussion for the affirmative and was followed by Judge S. M. Ralston of Lebanon and Senator Shively for the negative, John E. Lamb of Terre Haute closing for the affirmative. When the latter debaters, in the course of his speech, linked the name of Crawford Fairbanks, a Terre Haute brewer, with that of Thomas Taggart he was greeted by a storm of hisses which for a time threatened to overwhelm him, and it was not until the storm of protest against the speaker’s inference had spent itself that he was able to proceed. Mr. Lamb closed at 11 o’clock and a ballot was ordered on the proposition: “Shall the convention indorse a candidate for the United States senate?” The yeas carried the day by a vote of 888% to 858% and the convention rose in a veritable frenzy of applause. When Governor Marshall, as temporary chairman, then rose to introduce Senator Shively chairman the two leaders were given a really remarkable ovation. Senator Shively, in accepting the gavel, made no set speech, declaring that such was unnecessary, “there being no sinners here to be saved/’ The Contest by Ballots. xne report of the committee- on resolutions submitted by State Senator Stotsenberg of New Albany, was adopted and nominations for senatorial indorsement were made as follows: Major G. V? Menzies, R. W. Miers, Joseph H. Shea, L. Ert Slack, John E. Lamb, Thomas Taggart, John W. Kern, Edward V. Becker, Daniel W. Sims, Edward G. Hoffman, J. A. M. Adair and Samuel M. Ralston. The first ballot resulted: Menzies, 154; Miers, 57; Shea,-138; Slack, 174; Lamb, 226; Taggart, 228; Kern, 303; Becker, 51; Sims, 100; Hoffman, 166; Adair, 133; Ralston, 9; necessary to a choice, 874. During the progress of this ballot Mr. Kern entered the hall and announced that his name had been entered in tne race contrary to his express wish and order, but the declaration was greeted by a storm of “nos.” The convention apparently could not see how Mr. Kern was going to be able to keep his name out of the list. Second ballot:] Menzies, 128; Miers, 83; Shea, 101; Slack, 157; Lamb, 204; Taggart, 14; Kern, 647; Becker, 47; Sims, 65; Hoffman, 139; Adair, 143; Ralston, 19. During the progress of this ballot Mr. Taggart personally announced the full Marion county vote • for Mr. Kern, and from that moment the ultimate result was not In doubt. . Third ballot.: Menzies. 144; Miers,

66; Lamb, 223; Kern, 772; Sims, 93; Adair, 147; Shea, 90; Slack, 210; Taggart, 1; Becker, 4; Hoffman, 5. When Marion county was reached on this ballot Mr. Taggart arose and, speaking for the delegation, announced that “as ‘the old Taggart machine’ is in the scrap pile today, Marion county casts her full 183 votes for John W. Kern.” This started the stampede. The band played the Star Spangled Banner and the love feast was on. John E. Lamb started it before another ballot was called, by withdrawing in favor of Kern. The other candidates promptly followed suit, and at 3:10 Mr. Kern was by acclamation indorsed as the convention’s candidate for the United States senate, this choice to be ratified by the legislature If the Democrats control that body. The State Ticket. • There being no contest for the following officers, Lew Ellingham of Decatur was nominated by acclamation for secretary of state; William H. O’Brien of Lawrenceburg for auditor of state; Robert W. Aley for superintendent of public instruction, and Thomas Brolley of North Vernon for statistician. For treasurer the following names were presented: W. H. Vollmer of Vincennes; Charles M. Cooper, Indianapolis; B. T. Merrell, Crawfordsville. First ballot: Vollmer, 659; Cooper, 538; Merrell. 550. Second ballot: Vollmer, 751%; Cooper, 506; Merrell, 489%. Third ballot: Vollmer, 881; Cooper, 491; Merrell, 375. And Mr. Vollmer was declared the nominee. For attorney general the names of Thomas Honan of Seymour; Richard Milburn, Jasper, and Adam Wise of Plymouth were presented, the first ballot going 758% for Honan, 680% for Milburn, and 308 for Wise. Honan ■was nominated on the second ballot by a vote of 1,008 to Milburn’s 647.. and Wise’s 95. .. • For clerk of the supreme court the names of Gilbert Hendren of Bloomfield; Andrew J. Behymer of Elwood, and J. Fred France of Huntington Were presented. The first ballot went 602 1-3 for Hendren; 412 1-3 for Behymer, and 732 1-3 for France. On the second ballot France was nominated by a vote of 904 to Hendren’s 628% and Behymer’s 214%. For state geologist Edward Barrett of Plainfield was nominated over William M. Tucker of Osgood by a vote of 1,071% to 675%. For judge of the supreme court, Second district, Douglass Morris of Rushville was nominated over James R. Ewing of Greensburg by a vote of 1,317 to 430. For judge of the supreme court,' Third district, .there were four names presented: Charles E. Cox, D. J. Het ron and Charles E. Barrett, all of Indianapolis, and William V. Rooker of Noblesville, Cox winning by a vote of 944% to 412% for Hefron. 261% for

Barrett, and 128 for Rooker. For judges bf the appellate court for the northern district, four names were presented, three to be nominated, as follows: B. C. Moon of Kokomo; Joseph G. Ibach of Hammond; M. B. Lairy of Logansport, and Andrew A. Adams of Columbia City. Lairy received 1,622 votes; Adams, 1,555; Ibach, 1,292, and Moon 771, the three, first named being declared the nominees of the convention. " For judges of the appellate court, southern district, two to nominate, there were five starters: Edwin Taylor, Evansville; Milton B. Hottel, Sar lew; Orion B. Harris, Sullivan; John D. Magee, Rushville, and Edwin W. Felt of Greenfield. On the first ballot but one of the number received a majority or all the votes, Hottel, who received 1,211 to 582% for Taylor; 410 for Harris, 475 for Magee and 773% for Felt, necessitating another ballot to close the contest. On this ballot Felt received over 1,100 votes and was declared the nominee. The convention, then, at 10:30 adjourned.