South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-09-28

Governors Recent Visit to
Washington Fails to Clarity
Situation on Delegation.

little effect on the presidential sit
uation as it exists between the gov
ernor and United States Sen. James
L. Watson Word that has come to
Indiana relating to the conference
held by the governor and Watson
indicates that no conclusions were
reached. This means, according to-
the politicians that the governor
will not have a clear field in Indiana
for the delegation to the national
convention.
1t is understood that the govern
or went to Washington for the pur-
pose of feeling out the Indiana re-
publicans there in regard to send
ing an instructed delegation 10 the
national convention from Indiana.
He found opinion divided, it is
said, some OF the Indiana repub-
licans in congress standing against
the instructed delegation. The gov
ernor'S friends have favored the in
structed delegation plan because
the assumption is that the delega-
ton would be instructed TO vote
nomination.
When the governor was in Wash
ington he held extended conferences
with Sens. New and Watson. with
National Chairman Hays and with
all OF the members of the Indiana
delegation in congress except Bland,
who was in Europe. IL was at these
conferences that the presidential
question was discussed.
Friends We're Agitated.
There was no denial Of the fact
that for several weeks before the
governor went TO Washington his
friends had been considerably agi-
tated by the pro-Watson activity
that was being shown in other states.
Prior to going to Washington, the
governor is said to have remarked
that he would not enter into a fight
with Watson for the presidential /
nomination. His visit to Washing
ton certainly brought nothing to in
dictate that Watson would remain
out of the race
AS a matter of fact there are In
dications that Watson's friends are
hard at work not only in outside
states but also in Indiana. There
are reports of a we'll defined move
ment to Dust Edwin Wasmuth as the
state chairman and this movement
is said to come from the Watson
camp. This would be blow at the
present organization which is ad
mittedly friendly to the governor.
Ostensibly the feeling against Was
muth is due 10 the fact that he fall
ed to resign as chairman OF his dis
trict IN order that another man
might be appointed. But in reality
the cause is said TO be much more
significant.
There is even talk to the effect !
that Watson is trying TO form COM !
bination with Warren McCIay, who |
IS a candidate for the governOrship |
nomination, and the fact that Wat
son attended a political meeting re-
Gently in McGrays district is taken
as evidence of this fact. In trust !
worthy quarters, however, denial is /
made Of any such bination. Nc
Cray's friends say that he is travel |
ing on his own hand and that he
does not need the aid Of combina- !
tions.
Chairman Hays Ideas.
National Chairman Hays has
spoken several times in a way that
was construed as opposition to the
favorite son movement or to the
movement Of lining up delegates in
advance OF the national convention. !
The failure therefore to instruct In
diana delegates might be taken as
an Endorsement of the ideas Of Hays. .
But nobody doubts that the send 4
ing of an uninsuucted delegation
would be greatly TO the advantage Of
Watson and II has been generally
understood that the thing that Wat
son desired was an uninstructed
delegation. But there are indica-
tons now that the Watson forces
may attempt to go even further,
that they may attempt TO send a
delegation to the national conven- /
ton instructed for Watson. Talk
among the Watson adherents is TO
the effect that il has come time for
Watson to take "a leading part in In
diana politics and that the best way
for him to do this is 10 take COM 4
plete charge Of the republican state /
organization.
As "a matter Of fact Gov. Good /
rich is now engaged in the fight OF
his life In defense OF his admins /
tration. A large part Of the fight I
has TO do with the Indiana tax law
and this was one OF the questions .
that was up for discussion In his
Washington conferences. The gov
ernOr told his Washington cOnferees F..
that he was engaged in a campaign
OF education on the new tax law F.
and that it was his belief that they \
should join him in this movement :
That the congressman did not
unanimously join him i'm this idea .
was regarded as especially signifi- /
cant Some of them openly said .
that they favored the repeal Of the ,
tax law
That some OF the congressman I
were willing 10 turn the governor &
down on his request al d time whent
il is being shown that levies are
being decreased under the new law
and at a time when he has a special .
representative travelling over the
state and writing articles on tho new