New-York tribune., 1920-10-03
Indiana Split,
But Harding
Seems Victor
tcontluusd from page ono,
his judgment told him that Watso
was an easy winner.

his judgment told him that Watson
was an easy winner.
The surprising part of this is that
this betting Is being done in Indian
apolis, which is conceded this year to
be a stronghold for both Cox and Tag
gart. This does not mean that any one
actually expects either Cox or Taggart
to carry Marion County, which includes
indianapolis, but it means that there
is a more perceptibla drift toward the
Democratic party on national issues
this year than anywhere else in the
state, or, for that matter, anywhere
have been in the country.
The reason for this is that the two
big papers of Indianapolis, The Star
in the morning and The News in the
afternoon field, have been among the
most fervent and outspoken supporters
Of the peace treaty and League of Ma
tions in the country. The News par
dously influential paper. Both papers
League Of Nations for two years, and
they have built up remarkable senti-
ment for the league in this city and
the country near by. AS Indianapolis
is very great interurban center, this
sphere of influence of the local papers
is more extensive than is usual in such
cases.
Among the people who have been
"sold" on the league by these news
papers there is considerable element
which probably will vote for Cox,
although normally Republican. Tag
CART will also get lot of their votes.
This is more true of women, to whom
the idealism of the League of Nations
idea has appealed strongly, than among
the men. 1t is more true of the upper
class women than the wives of work
ingmen. 1t is the big element of
strength in the Democratic situation.
The second element of strength in
Democratic calculations is the admitted
unpopularity of the administration Of
Governor James Goodrich. Even Good
rich's friends admit that were it not
for the national campaign Goodrich's
administration would be milestone
around the Republican party's neck
To give just one instance of many-one
that affects every farmer in the state
there is the new tax law.
, Looked at from a purely economic
standpoint, the law looks fair enough.
1t merely provided that the assess
ments on all property for taxation pur-
poses SnOulu Ue IUU per cent.
Under this law, if farm was worth
$4,000 in the open market, it was as
sessed at $4,000. To enforce this law
state tax board was created, with
power to fire any local assessors found
letting property by with underassess-
ments. Well, the law was enforced
with enthusiasm by the tax assessors,
and the farmers all over the state are
yelping about it.
Farmers Disgruntled
The horny-handed farmers had been
escaping most of the burden Of state
taxation before. They had local as
sessments SO low that in order TO raise
enough money to run the country gov
ernments the rates in some instances
were as high as 57a per cent. This
didn't bother the county governments
at all, but it resulted in the farmers Of
the country escaping anything like what
would seem to be a fair share of the state
taxes. The new law changed all shat
with a vengeance, and the farmers are
outraged at the amounts the state gov
ernment is taking away from them.
Nor will they be likely to have for
gotten about it on Election Day, since
taxes are payable on November l and
election is November 2.
1t is conceded by Republicans that if