Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-22
DEMOCRATIC TREND
SEENIN IND|ANAAS
RESULT Of LEAGUE
Voters Take Up Abstract Is
sues Of Campaign-G. o. P.
Expects Majority.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

INDIANAPOLIS, October 22.-1lli-
nois may be dismissed in a single
sentence-overwhelm republican;
not much harm has been done the ma
tional ticket by the factional fights
inside the state.
AS for Indiana. the situation is far
more interesting. Three weeks ago
the democrats themselves would have
conceded defeat. But a democratic
drift has started Republicans admit
1t is league of nations sentiment be-
come articulate. While the democrats
are uncertain as to the ultimate size
of the drift, the republicans conf
IDENTIFY say they will carry the state
by $4,000. Perhaps a more conserva-
tive estimate would be 10000. This
may seem huge majority compared
to the 5000 which Indiana gave
Hughes in 1916, but the country must
be prepared for unusual figures both
in democratic and republican states
this year, as in many instances the
woman vote amounts to 40 per cent
of the male vote. Majorities of 10000
this year really would be about 10000
in other years.
Votes on Abstract Issues.
Indiana. which is so close to Ohio
THAI il ought to able to tell offhand
which one OF its two nextdoor neigh
bors in Ohio is the better man, is vot-
ing on entirely abstract issues this
year; This personality of Cox or
Harding is not factor. Here are
some things that do count:
First. fully $4,000 negroes will vote
the republican ticket this year. Some
well informed political reporters tell
the writer that the democrats would
have II majority of the white vote In
ordinary elections.
Second. the Germans of the state
and large numbers of them are nor
mally republican-are voting for
Harding almost to man. Some
leading editors insist that the repub-
cultivated the German vote for the
last year. The fact is. it needn't TO
have been sought. 1t is naturally re-
, sentful that Wilson didn't keep Amer
lea from fighting Germany.
Not Many Irish to Leave.
!. Third. the Irish vote isn't going to
leave the democratic party in such
large proportions as was believed at
the outset of this campaign. but the
Irish have been the back bone of the
party and the democrats never can
afford defections in Indiana as the
strength of the two parties is nor
mally about equal.
rOuTln, the ueSlFe 1Or a CndnSe III
administration in Washington is an
effective influence where the league
, of nations as an issue has not pene-
trated the electorate.
On the surface. Indiana ought to go
democratic this year. The bulk Of
| the press is stanchly fighting for the
present league of nations. The In
dianapolis News. as influential as any
newspaper in the state, and repub-
lican newspaper besides. a strong ad-
vocate of the nomination of Leonard
! Wood, a supporter of Hughes in 1916.
! is fighting Harding on the league
issue and saying very little about the
rest of his campaign. 1t so happens
/ that the majority of stock in the News
! is owned by sons of the late Charles
! w. Fairbanks. republican Vice Presi-
! dent. And the Fairbanks boys are
campaigning for Harding. But, under
| the laws of the state and clauses Of
the will. the surviving partners-even
! though minority stockholders-con-
troll the property. So Delevan Smith.
editor and minority stockholder, who
has been for the league from the start.
is continuing to wage a fight for the
Continued on Page 2. Column ~