Evening journal., 1910-04-04
MONDAY, APRIL 3. 1910
INDIANA A POLITICAL HOT-BED.


- REAT interest among the Republican poll
NJ ticans is manifested in the state conven-
ton of Indiana to be held next Tuesday at
indianapolis Ii will be the first Republican
state convention to be held since the enactment
of the new tariff law and the delegates will be
called upon to decide between the progressive
wing OF the party and the stand patters Prob.
ably an agreement will=be reached which viii be
satisfactory to both sides But the noteworthy
thing about the convention will be its attitude
towards Senator Beveridge. Mr.. Beveridge
lined up with the progressives during the tarh
debate Re is the only Republican Senator rep
rcsenting Indiana and the Republicans have but
three Congressman from the state.
President Taft of course, has a keen interest
in the coming convention. There has been
much speculation about his attitude, but IT S
believed that he has kept hands off, a wise course
to.folow
Senator Beverdee is the leader of the party
in Indiana, but he has said that he will leave the
making of the platform to the delegates. But
his speech TO the convention will sound the key
note. that is unless Bevcrdge fails to control the
convention Beveridge il is said, will condemn
Aldrich and Cannon, but at the same time he
will give warm endorsement 20 President TAFT.
The conservatives and progressves at Washing
ton are said to be satisfied with this reported
attitude of Beveridgc His opponents declare
that his failure to indorse the tariff law would
ALLEVIATE from the Senator the support OF the
stand patters" and other interests and would
not win the aid of enough Democrats to over
come the loss.
The Senator'S friends think that absolute
rcpudiation of the new law and Cannon and
Aldrich would insure his reelection.
Beveridge voted against the adoption of the
Pavno-Aldrich tariff bill. Three Republican Con
eressional conventions held reccptly in Indiana
have refused to endorse the tariff. At one of
these conventions eN-Congressman w atson,
Speaker Cannon's right hand made inn
passioned speech in favor of endorsing the tariff
law. but the platform ignored the national sub
icct In another district friends OF Watson
gingerly suggested that the new tariff was
step in the right direction and the third district
dispensed entirely with the platform feature.
The state convention on Tuesday will nominate
candidates for State Offices, except for Governor.
I'm addition to handling national issues in the
platform. the delegates will have a hard problem
in the temperance question.
Two years ago. Governor Hanley CRepubli-
canl called a special session Of the Legislature
and caused the enactment Of law providing
local option bv counties. in the regulation OF
the liquor traffic The Democrats favored local
option by townships In the election that fol-
lowed the Democrats won the governorship and
the Legislature and elected OF I3 Congress
men, but Taft carried the state by about 1900.
Since that time two-thirds of the counties in the
state have voted out the saloons. The prospects
are that the forthcoming convention will reafhrm
the adherence of the party to the county option
idea. This issue may figure in the election OF
members of the legislature who will choose
Beveridge's successor.
So Indiana will again be hotbed OF politics
with Beveridge enemies hoping that his failure
fully to endorse the tariff will work his downfall
and his friends confident that it will open a wide
road to victory.