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© Copyright 2003 EPICS TCHA Team at Purdue University, All Rights Reserved.
The county commissioners conducted a hearing about licensing a public ferry across the Wabash River at the Main Street landing.
Lafayette newspapering peaked with introduction of the Star, the 18th in business at the time. Among others were the Comet, daily and weekly Journal, daily and weekly Courier, daily and weekly Call, Home Journal, Sunday Leader, Sunday Times, German-American, Purdue Monthly, and perhaps also the Bulletin, the Saturday Noon, the Public School, and Dispatch.
House painter George Bennett stood accused of murdering John Werkhoff and William Scott near Fifth and Ferry streets. The shooting episode stemmed from Bennett's suspicion that Werkhoff and Scott had cut his paint brushes and referred to him as a "scab" during a labor dispute.
Republican William McKinley, Ohio-born soldier, lawyer, congressman and governor, won the U.S. Presidency from young Democrat orator William Jennings Bryan, 7,035,638 to 6,467,948. Bryan, an Illinois native lawyer, lecturer and congressman from Nebraska who electrified his nominating convention with the now-famous "Cross of Gold" speech on monetary policy, lost the electoral vote 271-176. Tippecanoe County stuck with its Republican tradition, casting 6,209 votes for McKinley, 4,593 for Bryan. William S. Haggard, Lafayette, won election as lieutenant governor. Lafayette voters, meanwhile, defeated the proposed annexation of West Lafayette 3,059 to 1,828.
Voting machines were used for the first time in county elections. Republicans swept local races in a turnout of more than 11,000. William Howard Taft, Ohio lawyer, judge, territorial governor and cabinet member, defeated Bryan for President 7,679,906 to 6,409,106 and 321-162 in electoral votes. Tippecanoe gave Taft 6,164 to Bryan's 4,959.
Republicans regained dominance of Tippecanoe County government elections, winning all contests and helping elect Will R. Wood to the U.S. House. Former State Rep. Alva O. Reser won election to the Indiana Senate, and Harry G. Leslie was re-elected county treasurer.
Alf Landon, Pennsylvania-born businessman and governor of Kansas, lost to President Roosevelt 27,751,597 to 16,679,583 and 523-8 in electoral votes. But Tippecanoe County returned to its Republican tradition, giving Landon 13,081 votes to Roosevelt's 12,732. In county races, Republican wins were nearly as decisive as before the 1932 Roosevelt landslide. A record 26,813 people voted.
Republicans swept the county election contests as usual. In Lafayette A.R. "Doc" Killian defeated former mayor John B. Hudson, a Democrat, in the mayor race 5,514 to 5,079. In West Lafayette, Republican nominee Charles R. Burnham won election as mayor without opposition.
Lafayette Life Insurance Company announced plans to build a home office at 18th Street and Earl Avenue [later renamed Teal Road] on 20 acres once part of Shambaugh Airport.
Democrat William K. Gettings defeated Republican Elton V. "Red" McQueen 8,487 to 6,724 and, at age 32, took office as Lafayette mayor in January, 1960. In West Lafayette, Mayor Fred L. Willis won re-election.
Democrats scored victories in Tippecanoe County elections for the first time since the Roosevelt landslide of 1932. Led by Lyndon B. Johnson for president and Roger D. Branigin for governor, Democrats also won county offices of treasurer, surveyor and county commissioner. Branigin defeated Republican Richard O. Ristine, of Crawfordsville, by about 263,000 votes statewide. [Supporters honored Branigin at a testimonial dinner at Central Catholic High School on Dec. 7, and he took the oath of office in ceremonies at Indianapolis on Jan. 11, 1965.] The nation backed Johnson 43,129,484 to 27, 178,188 over Arizona Senator Barry M. Goldwater, with 486 electoral votes to 52. Tippecanoe County cast 20,257 votes for Johnson, 19,036 for Goldwater.
Republicans carried most Tippecanoe County races. But the county gave a plurality to Democrat Philip Sprague of Michigan City, who lost the 2nd District congressional race to incumbent Rep. Earl Landgrebe.
Mayors James F. Riehle and Sonya L. Margerum won re-election in Lafayette and West Lafayette, respectively, and met on Main Street Bridge for congratulatory handshake and promise to work for community growth for another four years. Riehle topped Republican Kenneth W. Ohl with 6,648 votes to 3,770. Margerum topped Republican Pat Carr 3,043 to 1,552. Lafayette victories by Phil Kelley, Ron Campbell, Johanna Downie, Ron Corbett, Barry Richard, and Jerry Ledbetter gave Democrats a 6-3 majority in the City Council. Democrats Linda Young, Dean Rothenberger, Larry Nelson, Joe Krause and Carmen Fabian gained victories for a 5-2 majority in the W.L. City Council.
Tippecanoe County voters gave the losing Republican ticket of President George Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle 23,050 votes, and 17,343 to the victorious team of Democrats Bill Clinton and Al Gore. The independent candidacy of Texas oil billionaire Ross Perot attracted 9,684 county voters. The county helped re-elect Republican Dan Coats to the U.S. Senate with 29,129 votes to 17,867 to Democrat Joe Hogsett. Local voters showed a strong preference for Democrat Gov. Evan Bayh, helping re-elect him with 29,840 votes to 18,742 for Republican Linley Pearson. And they helped 7th District Congressman John T. Myers return to Washington by giving him 28,002 votes to 20,756 for West Lafayette Democrat Ellen Wedum. State Sen. Katie L. Wolf, D-Monticello, defeated Tippecanoe farmer Alan R. Kemper although Kemper carried the county 6,265 to 5,236. State Rep. Sue Scholer, R-West Lafayette, topped Democrat Sharon Wood 10,061 to 7,075 in the county; Rep. Sheila Klinker, D-Lafayette, defeated Republican challenger Linda Phillips 13,385 to 9,569.
Tippecanoe Mall completed a $20 million expansion project with 23 additional stores.
In an "off year" election swept by Republican candidates for county and township offices, Republican Ron Alting defeated former Mayor James F. Riehle for election to the Indiana Senate. Alting will replace Democrat Mike Gery, of West Lafayette, who decided against running after serving six four-year terms. State Rep. Sheila Klinker, D-Lafayette, and Rep. Sue Scholer, R-West Lafayette, won re-election.