New-York tribune., 1920-10-03
His Strength Relied Upon
by the Republicans to
Bring About Taggart's
Defeat in Senate Race
Hottest Campaign
State Has Known
Democrats, Well Fixed
With Funds, Are TAX
ing Battle to Opponents
By Carter Field

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 2.-Tom Tag
CART is the center and key of the In
diana situation. He is the candidate
for United States Senator against SEN
ator James E. Watson, who defeated
him four years ago, after one of the
most intensive campaigns even this
state, where politics is probably hot
ter than in any other state In the
Union. 365 days in every year, except
leap year, has ever known.
The Democratic organization here is
apparently more efficient, has more en-
thusiasm and is putting up a harder
fight than in any state l have visited.
incidentally, it has plenty Of money,
and is the only state in which / have
been where there is no concealment of
the fact that the Democrats have more
money than they had four years ago.
The Democratic organization does
not admit it, but it actually has as
much money as il needs. 1t is very
evident on every hand, again in strong
contrast with most states, that the
Democrats have more money than the
Republicans.
Situation Mixed Up
The whole situation is terribly mixed
up and involved, with so many cross
currents that mere recital of them
would run into columns; but, weighing
Sll the evidence carefully and slzllg up
their values so far as actual trend of
votes Is concerned, it seems likely that
the majority for Harding in Indiana
will be SO big that it will drag Senator
Watson through and elect the Repubii-
can candidate for Governor, Warren T.
McCray.
Men and women outside normal po
litical circles believe that Senator Wat
son will tun way behind the national
ticket; some of them think as much
as $4,000 to $4,000. There is certainly
tremendous number of voters who in
tend to vote for Harding and Taggart
1t is amazing the number of them that
! ran into in the four days l have spent
in the state. On the other hand, the
politicians of both parties say Watson
will run fairly close up behind Hard
ing. Watson himself told me he would
run behind Harding.
NO one is going to run up with the
head OF our national ticket this year"
he said.
Some Of the Republican leaders think
Harding may run 10000 ahead of Wat
son, but in the same breath they go on
10 say that Harding will carry the state
by from $4,000 to 1000.
On the same subject the Democrats
decline to give the proportions by which
'laggart runs ahead of Cox in their con-
f'dential polls. They content them
selves with saying that Taggart will be
elected, and that Cox Will carry the
state. Also the Democrats decline to
give the Congressional districts in which
lney nope to make gains.
AT present there is solid delegation
OF thirteen Republicans They are
scarcely hoping to hold this, since over
whelmlngly Democratic districts elected
republican members of the House in
1918, after President Wilson appealed
lor Democratic Congress.
Republicans Optimistic
The best opinion obtainable at this
time !I, seems to be that the Republicans
districts, the Sd and 4th. They are
quite sure of holding the remaining
eieVen, and, with every indication of a
! hepuDlican sweep, their optimism seems
justified.
Inc betting odds in indianapolis tell
the story pretty we'll. Bets are posted
pp on several boards in various parts
the city, and the betting, starting
even money and then shifting to
TO N, had got down to to l
nlo week, the same odds being de-
nanoed by Democrats on Taggart as
Gox- While | was watching one of
me ne Dig boards, an offer of $500 to ST.
w on Taggart was taken by some
seson men, whoJ notified the board
sepef that they would take all the
'Vnney offered at the same rate.
On making inquiries of the group
Vnlch had bet to i on Watson and was
nihg to take more, found that at
ss' one of them intended personally
vote Tor Harding and Taggart, but
u'ogo ne personally favored Taggart,
Scontfnusd on page fou)