The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-04-05
PROGRESSIVE ISSUE
RAISED ONCE MORE
Death Of Shively Opens Way for Settle.
ment Of Contest but Ant-Watson
Forces Not Satisfied With
Proposed Deal

by tniltu IIcSo.
Indianapolis, Ind, April 5.--Repub-
licans 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.
Shiyely might provide the spark for
a blow-up, it was hinted. Organization
matters including a keynote speech
and selection of delegates to the ma
tional convention constituted the pro-
gram for today. Nominations will
come tomorrow.
Harry S. New, who, by virtue Of a
big vote in Marion county, (Indian-
apolis) his home, led Watson by sew
eral thousand votes at the direct pri-
mary, was conceded the nomination
for the long term, which carries with
it an opportunity to oppose Senator
John Worth Kern.
The element that backed New at the
primary did so under a banner stat
ing: HE Can BE Elected" and their
argument was that Watson, II nomi-
mated, would not be able TO draw back
to the G. o. p. the progressive vote
that, went for Albert j. Beveridge two
years ago. The primary failed to NOM
mate, as no candidate for U. S. sena-
tor got majority of the first choica
votes.
With Watson's organization OF vet
Grams catching its breath after CAM
paign in which it had captured a ma
iority of the counties and won a ma
jority of the votes outside Marion,
Watson issued a 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 announce
men and anti-Watson forces have
tried to make him stand on 1t, but
Watson managers quickly intimated
tha Shivelys death offered the oppor-
tunity for a satisfactory settlement
of the New-Watson contest and that
they would be satisfied with the short
term for their candidate.
Indications were that there would
be an explosion today and that Wat
son would capture the short term
nomination by virtue of his flying coli
umn of veterans. No other candidate
has had an adequate opportunity to
mobilize his forces since Shively's
death.
This prospect troubled certain Re-
publican editors who opposed Watson
in the primary as impossible of cleo
ton because he could not bring back
the progressives, they said. Watson.
on the other hand. in his fight with
New, pointed to the former Progress
sives who were aiding his campaign
and declared that whereas he worked
in the open" at the historic Chicago
convention, his opponent, New, was
on the national committee that order
ed him to act as he did.
Will II. Hays. republican state
chairman. appeared to be the choices
of the anti-Watson men today follow
ing the death of Shively, but Watson
called on Hays, and Watson men
made it plain they would resent any
interference by the head Of the Re-
publican organization; and 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-Watsonites
have chosen Fred Sims and Quincy A.
Myers as their most likely prospects.
| -------------------- --------------f