Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-26
CONTEST FOR SENATE
IS OPENED IN: INDIANA
Taggart, in Fight Against Watson,
Endeavors to Make League
the Leading Issue.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, September
29.-The entry of Thomas Taggart
into the speaking campaign in In
diana this week marked the Begin
ming of a contest that in interest
will rival the presidential race. There
was considerable curiosity to know
Just what line Mr.. Taggart would
take in his contest against United
States Senator James E. Watson, who
is seeking reelection. Mr.. Taggart
allayed all doubt when in his first
speeches he spoke vigorously for the
league of nations, and also made mem
ton of his own record as a business
man. He also made a personal de-
Tense of President Wilson, and in a
letter to group of women in the
state made the specific assertion that
if elected he would use his influence
stands without changing the speci-
fed content of alcoholic liquor. He
also reminded the women that, since
he had made a specific answer to
their question on the liquor issue,
they. should turn their attention to
acterized as the leading issue of the
campaign and one of particular in
terest to the mothers of the state.
Senator Watson has been speaking
persistently against the extrava-
gance and mistakes of the Wilson adj
bitter attack on the President was
made a few days ago by National
Chairman Hays in speech at La
Porte, Ind. There were two beds
over there" said Mr.. Hays. "a dis
tinguished American slept in one-a
20 M ir1 atd -u h
Buckingham Palace. He was pleased
and ready to return. There was an
other bed over there and the BOYS
who slept in that bed and the moth
ers of the boys who slept in that
bed, which was the front-line trench
twice before those boys go back to
that bed"
These excerpts just quoted show
what prominent place the issue of
wisconsin is going to play in the In
diana campaign. A great many, it
Wilson above any other issue.
Mr.. Taggart's reference to his
record as a business man is of sig
nificance because it is understood that
an organization of business men has
already been formed to work for
Watson. it is said. is in the hands Of
six leading business men of Indian
apolis. They propose to carry the
word to the other business men that
Senator Watson will be invaluable to
business in the Senate. They are
pointing out that in case the poor
health of Senator Penrose continues
Senator Watson probably will be put
at the head Of the finance committee
and in that capacity will have charge
'of important problems of taxation.
With the republicans apparently
pretty we'll united and with wei
creased political machinery it ap-
pears that there is only one thing
that can change the present atmos-
phere between now and the election,
and that is the league Of nations. The
great unknown force is the woman's
vote, and it is believed that the only
thing that could come anywhere near
swinging this vote en- masse would
be the league issue. 1t is apparently
the hope of the democrats to con-
vince the women that it is only
through the league that future -seri-
oIs wars can be avoided The demo-
Gratis believe, apparently, that if thew
can put over this idea in a big way
they will succeed in getting enough
of the woman vote to overcome the
elements of strength possessed by the
republicans. Unless the democrats
can succeed in this effort or can stir
up lot of feeling against the pres
emit state administration and apply il
in the campaign, a thing they have
apparently been unable to do up ia
this time the republicans should
carry Indiana by stable majority
CURTIS HODGES.