The Washington times., 1908-09-28
Red Hot Contest in HooSier
State Hinges on the Dues
ton of Prohibition.
BREWERS GIVE AID
TO THE DEMOCRATS
Republican Special Session Passes
County Option Law, Thus Com
plicating the Situation.
By JOHN SNURE.


CHICAGO. Ill. Sept. "a great
cloud Of dust and smoke hangs over
the Hoosier State
one can discern Il on getting any
where within a hundred miles of the
Indiana border. Il is as thick over the
valley Of the st. Joe as IL is along the
banks of the Wabash. On getting into
it. one can hear the mixed and miscel-
laneOus din Of political strife and fac
tional battle. II is a conflict such as
the classic and literary bailiwlck of
George AIDE and James Whitcomb Riley
has seldom known before. Some OF the
Oldest inhabitants say they have never
seen anything IKE 1t, and add, incl
dentally, that they nope they will never
see the ike again.
This Indiana battle is no ordinary
political struggle over such solemn sub
jects as the tariff, the trusts, and I'M
perialism. II is a struggle into which
enter the prohibition question, person
allties, factlonal differences, the aspira-
lions or individuals, business interests
labor issues ana numerous other mat
ters- No one but a prophet Of more
than human powers can fOretell den-
nitely and with anything like accuracy
what Indiana Is going 10 do in the No
vember election.
Democrats Claim It.
The Democrats hay claim to it, and.
with equal vociferousness, the Repub-
Leans say they Will carry it. The fact
is, each side IS hoping 20 get Il, and
each side has reason for hope II looks
as If Indiana would be carried by
narrow margin IN any event, with the
chances about equal as between Bryan
and Taft, and the prospects for Mar
shall. the Democratic nominee 8for gov
than n
tive Watson's, the Republican candi-
date for governor.
The Legislature OF the state. called
in special session BY Governor Hanly,
after a bitter struggle. has passed a law
for local option by counties. The fact
the law has been enacted will doubtless
help the Republicans In the sense that
they are better off than IL the measure
had been defeated A great many Re
publicans feel II was unwise in the eN-
IRENE for the governor tOscall an extra
session at this time. and that the Re
publican prospects have been hurt by
II. They feel that a needless rUction
has been stirred up. The brewing IN
terests and liquor interests generally re-
step in the direction Of total prohibition
Hence. they are against it.
Brewers Fought Bill
They fought 1t tooth and nail before
the Legislature. They turned their sup
cause the Republicans In their platform
declared for local option BIZ counties,
whereas the Democratic platform would
have the township and the ward the
unit. That these interests stood ready
10 contribute heavily to the Democratic
campaign fund is commonly talked.
Now, with the Legislature having en-
acted law for county local option
the liquor interests, the Republicans he
lieve will not be ready TO give up their
money. because II is hardly 70 be ex-
Pected the law that has been passed can
be repealed. To this extent the action
OF the Legislature will help the Repub-
licans. At the same time that part OF
the population that believe in the
saloon and in every man getting a
drink when he wants II. including the
brewing and liquor interests, are sore,
and are VOwing vengeance on the Re-
publican State ticket
Out of about !, $50 townships and wards
in Indiana, four-hfths have gone dry
under the old local option law IN the
large centers, such as Indianapolis,
Terre Haute and Evansville, the senti-
ment Is friendly 70 the saloon and the
brewery
No question exists that the Demo-
Gratis this year will make heavy gains
in the cities and towns Of Indiana,
where liquor has not been driven out
The real question IS what the farmers
OF the Hooslsr country are going TO
do.
The Democrats believe they have the
farmer vote.
Democrats Have Evidence.
They Orfer in evidence the fact that
in the recent special legislative cleo,
tons, in one district composed Of four
dry counties, carried by the RepubH-
cans by about $500 in the last preceding
election. the Democratic candidate was
elected. Sixty per cent of the vote of
Indiana is agricultural If ii comes out,
II is ll,ely to hold the State for Taft
by Il close margin. But there Is pros
perity and Indifference among the rural
voters. and IL will be no easy matter
to get them out.
The labor situation is not favorable to
the Republicans.
Clashing personal ambitions tend 10
cripple the Republican race in Indiana
Senator Albert ]. Beverage is nowhere