The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-04-15
INDIANA WILL Be
| 4 BATTLE GROUND
FOR BIG CONTEST
Reason the Fairbanks Lieu
tenants Have Declined to
Accept Foreign Posts Be-
cause War Is Enroute.
NO TH0RNLESS PATH
FOR SEN. BEvERlDCE
Senior Senator Is Now on
Top Of the Heap But Wat
son, Hemenway ct al Are
After His Scalp.

Washington, April l5.-There GER
tainly will be some interesting poll
tics in Indiana during the next few
years. The prospect is SO entrancing
that not prominent Indiana republi-
can seems willing to leave the state.
Appointments rendered by President
Taft, which. under ordinary circum-
stances would be grabbed at. have been
declined with thanks. They don't
want to miss the scrap.
Jim" Watson, who was the candi-
date for governor on the republican
ticket last year and was defeated, holds
the record for turning down good jobs.
He has been offered about everything
on the presidents list. including an
Enthusiastically, but has consistently
and firmly said no. Watson's record
is unique in another respect He re-
fused to be ambassador to Mexico, one
of the most highly priced of presiden-
tial offices, but was willing to be Unit
ed States attorney for Indiana, a place
far. far lower in the scale. as such
things are reckoned. Tho district at
torneyship, however, had been prom
ised to another.
Places Turned Down.
Former Senator Hemenway was Of
fered the post of minister to China,
but declined. Former Vice President
Fairbanks was talked of and seriously
considered by the president for ambas-
sador to England. but has announced
that he doesn't want an office. Char
lie" Lands, former member OF the
house from Indiana, it Is understood.
has been offered the governorship Of
Porto Rico, but has not signified his
willingness to accept the place.
A little study throws an interesting
light on tho Indiana situation. Wat
son, Hemenway and Lands all belong
to the Fairbanks wing Of the party in
the Hoosier state. and all were victims
Of the democratic landslide last No
vember. The landslide placed Senator
Albert jeremiah Beveridge, whom the
Fairbanks republicans loveth not, alb
solutely in the saddle as the Indiana
boss. With democratic colleague in
the senate and only two Of the thirteen
house members republicans, senator
Beveidge will have more patronage q.
his disposal, probably. than any other
man In congress; and federal patronage
is a great help when 1t comes to build
ing up and maintaining an organiza-
ton.
A Thorntsss Path.
Though the men who have been ten
dered positions by the president and
have declined them are not Beverage
supporters. 1t is reasonable to assume
that the senator would have acQuiesced
cheerfully In their appointments. With
Fairbanks in London, Hemenway in
Picking, Watson In Mexico and Lands
in Porto Rico, Beveridge would have
had an almost thornless path in Indi-
ana.
The bait was tempting, but the Hoos-
iers didn't bite. They are going to
stay at home and contest with Bever-
idge for the party leadership. Bever-
idge's senatorial term expires two
years from now, and it is understood
that either Hemenway or Watson will
contest his seat. The latter has no.
abandoned his ambition to be governor
but Governor Marshall is elected for
term Of four years, and four years is
long time to wait in politics.