Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-17
WRECK~LOOMS
FOR WATSON IN
GOODRICH'SRUT
Senator's Followers Submit
Too Long to Governors
Rule or Ruin Policy.
STATE ISSUE NOW PLAIN

Friends in Indiana OF James z. Wat
son are beginning to waken to the fact
that the senator's chances for reelection
to the senate as the head of the repub-
lican state ticket, are being placed In
Jeopardy by the rule or ruin" policy OF
the state organization, under the conrrol
of James F. Goodrich.
In the interests Of harmony they have
permitted Goodrich to retain his hold
on the state committee, and with the
assurance that Goodrich would do moth
ing that would injure the Watson
chances for reelection they have per-
mitted Goodrich to run the affairs Of the
party almost unchecked.
Now they are awakening to the fact
that Goodrich proposes to shape the
coming campaign in Indiana so that it
must resolve itself into a fight for public
Endorsement of the Goodrich admins
tration and all that Goodrichism i'm
plies. And the Watson element is ex-
ceedingly doubtful whether the state Of
Indiana can be made to swallow another
four years of Goodricnism. Friends of
the senator see the time approaching
when in order to support Watson they
must swallow Goodrich and Goodrich
ism, and while they would not personal
" hesitate at even that bitter dose, they
concede that the bulk of the voters will
not accept Goodrichism, even with the
knowledge that refusal means the de-
feat of Watson
WATSON HELD FAST TO
GOODRICH CHARIOT WHEELS.
Goodrich has smoothly and steadily
bound Watson to the wheels of his own
chariot in Indiana. He has brought
about a statement from Chairman Ed
Wasmuth to the effect that the coming
republican candidates must accept the
Goodrich tax law and the Goodrich cen
tralization schemes or step out of the
republican ranks.
He has forced the retention by the
republican committee Of the hirelings
whom he selected and through whom he
conducts the affairs Of the state orgsni-
cation,
He has let it be known that no can
didate for office will succeed unless he
Is willing to pledge himself to perpetuate
the many boards that Goodrich ORR
ginated and otherwise carry on the cen
tralization" schemes that are so dear to
his heart.
Now, at a last dose for the Watson ele-
W. Fesler for governor. Fesler now
bears the stamp Of Goodrich in so con-
spicuous manner that there would be
little difference in the governors office
were he to succeed Goodrich today.
Goodrich men are managing Feslers
campaign. Goodrich men are boosting
him in every part Of the state. Goodrich
men are surrounding him in Indianap-
oils. Goodrich men are preparing the
platform on which Fesler expects to run
for office. Goodrich men are promising
him the campaign funds he will need.
In short, Goodrich proposes and ap-
parently will propose successfully, that
Jim Watson's running mate on the re-
publican ticket be Fesler, an exact
counterpart of Goodrich, pledged to do
Goodrich's bidding and perpetuate Good
rich's machine
This means, of course, that Goodrichism
will be the campaign issue in Indiana.
1t means that the democrats will not
have to hunt for an issue, but will have
only the necessity of turning their guns
on Goodrich In order to fight Fesler
effectively.
Watsons friends have had their ears
to the ground. They know that they
have been for more than a year utterly
disguised with the kind of repubncanism
that Goodrich leads. They know that
the rest OF Ln6 5LdIe IS SurIelLeu Win
Goodrichism and they are asking, merely,
how the republican party expects to elect
another Goodrich candidate on a plat
form that they themselves have been
forced to repudiate and that no one ex-
cept the Goodrich hirenngs will md
acceptable.
The answer from the Goodrich camp
is In no way satisfactory, for Goodrich
pretends to believe that he is just as
popular now in Indiana as he was when
he was elected He refuses to see the
dissatisfaction with his administrat ton
or his teachings and he calmly assures
the Watson element that he will elect the
whole republican ticket. including Wat
son. This assurance is anything but
assuring to Watson men, who are now
doubtful whether Goodrich really wants
Watson to head a successful ticket.
They are gradually coming to the con-
clusion that Goodrich intends that the
party shall bear the burden of his mis-
administration at all costs and one Of
the costs they see looming before them
is the defeat Of Jim Watson and his
elimination from the politicaI field of