The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-04-07
REPUbS OF Indiana
GATHER AT SESSION
State Convention Is Being Held
In Indianapolis
WATSON IS BIG NOISE
Fear That He Might Explode
Very WrathfulIy and Create
Much Trouble
UNITED Press plspatch.l


Indianapolis, April 5.-Republi-
cans of Indiana at the state conven-
ton opening here today knew they
We're treading on explosives and
that the explosives bore the label
James Eli Watson"
Any attempt to sidetrack the move
ment for Watson for the short term
candidacy to fill the vacancy left by
the death of Senator Benjamin f.
Shively might provide the spark for
a blow-up, it was limited Organiza-
ton matters including a keynote
speech and selections of delegates to
the national convention constituted
the program for today. Nominations
will come tomorrow.
Harry S. New, who, by virtue of
big vote in Marion county, Indian-
apolis) his home, led Watson by sew
eral thousand votes at the direct
primary, was conceded the nomination
for the long term, which carries with
1T an opportunity to oppose Senator
John Worth Kern.
The element that backed New at
the primary did so under a banner
stating: HE Can Be Elected
and their argument was that Watson,
if nominated, would not be able to
draw back to the G. o. P, the pro-
gressive vote that went for Albert
j, Beverage two years ago. The
primary failed to nominate as no can
didate for United States senator
got a majority of, the first choice
votes.
Watoon Catching His Breath
With W9tson's organization of
veterans catching its breath after
a campaign in which it had captured
a majority of the counties and won a
majority of the votes outside Marion,
Watson issued statement declaring
that SO far as the primary was con-
cerned his forces intended to disre-
gard the Marion county vote that
gave New his plurality and would
carry the fight against New to the
floor of this convention
Then Senator Shively died in Wash
ington. Watson had no opportunity
TO withdraw his unfortunate an
nouncement and Anti Watson forces
have tried to make him stand ON it,,
but Watson managers quickly init
mated that Shively's death offered
the opportunity for satisfactory
settlement of the New Watson con-
test and that they would be satisfied
with the short term for their can
didate.
Indications were that there would
be no explosion today and that
Watson would capture the short term
nomination by virtue of his flying
column of veterans. No other candi-
date has had adequate opportunity
to mobilize his forces since Shively's
death.
This prospect troubled certain
republican editors who opposed Wat
son in the primary as impossible of
election because he could not bring
back the progressives, they said.
Watson, on the other hand, in his fight
with New, pointed to the former
progressives who were aiding his
campaign and declared that whereas
he worked in the OPEN at the his
toric Chicago convention. his oppo--
nent, New, was on the national
committee that ordered him act as
he did,
Hays Was Favorite.
Will H. Hays, republican state
chairman, appeared to be the chore
of the anti-Watson men today
following the death of Shively, but
Watson called on Hays, and Watson
men made it plain they would re-
sent any interference by the head of
the republican organization; and a
few days later Hays announced that
his duty lay with the organization
and that he would accept the state
chairmanship for another term.
Since that time the anti Watson
ties have chosen Fred Sims and
Quincy A. Myers as their most likely
prospects. Myers ran poor third
in the primary contest for the guDer-
material nomination Sims formerly
was republican state chairman and
has held state offices, but recently
he has just looked on.
James p Goodrich, by a sweeping
victory at the primary, won the right
to lead the state ticket as the repub-
lican candidate for governor. Good
rich is one of Indiana's political war
horses, having been one of the lead
ers in the party's organization for
years.
With promising field for the state
offices, the convention offered live
~ prospect This convention came
as climax to period in which In
diana politics, always congested,
partook of sardine appearance in
the view of the average citizen. =
oT--
Six FelloWships in gu"
UNITED Press Dispatcn.]