Austin was easily reelected in 1914 and 1916 . At the 1916 Republican National Convention , he openly squabbled with ex-Governor Ben W. Hooper ( a Sanders ally ) over the state 's delegate to the national committee . The persistent enmity of Houk , Sanders and Hooper finally took its toll in the March 1918 Republican primary , when Austin was defeated for the nomination by state party chairman J. Will Taylor
1916 Republican National Convention
1916 Republican National Convention
Richard W. Austin