Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 August 1910 — MAY BE SUPERIOR JUDGE. [ARTICLE]

MAY BE SUPERIOR JUDGE.

R. M. Vannatta, Formerly of Rensselaer, Has Good Chance to Win Nomination. rhe republican judicial convention tor the superior court district composed of Delaware and Grant counties will be held at Fairmont to-day. There are three candidates in the field, among whom is Robert M. Vgnnatta of Marion, formerly of Rensselaer and a son of Mr. and Airs. John Vannatta, still residing here. Mr. Vannatta was principal the Remington schools several years ago. The contest is said to have resulted in a political scramble an which ward methods were resorted to in securing delegates. As a result the delegates are divided among tflie three candidates, George W. Cromer and bred McClellan of Delaware county and Vannatta of Grant. fn writing of the conditions there W. H. Blodgett, staff correspondent of the Indianapolis News, says among other things: This is the first time a**judge nf the superior court for the district made up of Grant and Delaware counties has been elected, and the manner in which the Republicans have chosen their delegates wlio will nominate a judge is causing not a little criticism. There is a sentiment that cTeaner methods should be used in selecting a judge who presides over property rights and even the liberty of the people. Cromer sent agents into Grant county, headquarters were established and everything known to the professional politician was done in order to get Cromer votes. Cromer in Graht county was no worse than Vannatta in Delaware county. Though McClellan was the name of the candidate against Cromer, his candidacy was really In the Interests of Vannatta, whose agents in Delaware county indulged in just as dirty politics as did the Cromer agents in Grant county. It is reported, too, that a Madison county postmaster had a meeting with some distinguished sons of Delaware county, at midnight, and yesterday he was busy in the three townships of Grant county that bump against Delaware county on the south.

In the way ot man handling voters in both counties, nothing seems to have been overlooked. The selection of delegates for a superior court judge was carried on in the manner of selecting a town constable, and a large numJber of Independent voters in both counties are disgusted with it. Nothing has happened in the two big counties of Grant and Delaware for years that has filled the lovers of fairness in politics with disgust more than the manner in which delegates were selected to nominate a judge of the superior court. The question of the qualification of any of the men aspiring to the place was not an issue. The whole thing was the effort of several political gangs to eat each other up, and the man who is able to stand the most chewing is the man who is to be nominated for the judgeship. Both Grant and Deleware counties are heavily Republican, but there is considerable doubt about them this year, particularly on the local ticket. The friends of Vannatta have already, as has been stated, served notice that If Cromer is nominated Grant county will not vote for him and in Delaware county there is an element that will join with the Vannatta men against Mr.. Cromer. It seems very much to-day as, if no Republican can be elected. Though Vannatta to-day is asserting that he will have the solid delegation Of thirty-six delegatee, selected in Grant county, it is admitted by Vannatta and hie friends that Hallock Beuoy. of Matthews; Augustus Ailman, of Marion, and Monroe Drook, of Richland township, are delegates who are not on the Vannatta slate. Mr. Vannatta says, however, they will support him as against any candidate ’ in Delaware county. E. L. Wachtell, of Muncie, George Cromer’a representative in this county, said today that Cromer would have several delegates in Grant county, although he said he was not well enough acquainted with Grant county plans to say just who they will be. In several districts there was apposition to the Vannatta slate, but in only three instances, so far as known, did the Vannatta men lose out.