Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-03-13
DECLARES FOR
NONPLEDGING
OF DELEGATES
Marshall to Retire if Name of
Jerseyite Is Withdrawn,
Says Elder.
COP. TRAP WON'T WORK

Gov. Edward l. Edwards of New
Jersey, behind whose name the re-
publican vets of Indianapolis have
been endeavoring to create trouble
in the democratic ranks, has served
notice that he will not permit the use
Of his name in presidential primaries.
In a letter which has been sent to
Ira A. Sawin, who fled a petition to
place his name on the democratic
presidential ballot in this state, Mr..
Edwards says he favors unpledged
delegates, "who will be left free to
choose as their standard bearer the
man who most fittingly represents
the principles for which the demo
cratic party stands"
IN a telegram TO the secretary Of state
Mr.. Edwards announces his intention Of
Withdrawing his name from the Indians
primary.
On the receipt Of specific instructions
TO withdraw his name. the secretary Of
state will be required under the law
to refrain from placing it on the ballot.
and thereupon viii end another of the
fragrant bipartisan efforts to interfere IN
the political affairs of the democratic
party in this state.
Announcement Of the intention of the
vets to infect Edwards into the primary
race were frst made public in the repuh-
iican press Of Indianapolis. Announce
ment that Edwards would not stand
for the bipartisan manipulation was first
made from the same source. Throughout
the whole of the difficulty provoked by
the petition the hackers of Edwards have
been in close conference with republicans
and have had the active cooperation
Of the Indianapolis Star. the Indianapo-
lis News and other republican papers
in the state To this has been added
/ the assistance Of men in the employ of
4 the republican state committee, and par
/ ticularly Of the supporters Of Hiram
+ Johnson, In Indiana. The Johnson sup
porters furnished the petition forms on
which the Edwards people filed their
petitions. The Star furnished the
straw man" over whose name publicity
was furnished.
NAMES AND CASH
FROM G. o. P. SOURCES.
The News furnished large part of the
signers for the petition and helped in its
preparation. Men in the employ Of the re-
publican state committee provided what
money was used In the development OF
the movement.
The injection of the name Of Gov. Ed
wards. personally unknown in Indiana,
into the primaries was a part of plot
to force primary fight here between
Thomas r. Marshall and William G. Nc
Adoo. Both these men had declared their
intention Of staying out of the primary,
but friends of each were insistent that
no outsider be allowed to capture the
delegation 1t was agreed that petitions
for neither would be filed and this agree
ment held until the vets tried to inject
Edwards when, by agreement, the Mar
shall petition was also filed. with the un-
derstanding that Marshalfs name would
be withdrawn in event Edwards name
was withdrawn.
When informed of the announcement OF
the intention of Mr.. Edwards to with
draw his name in Indiana, William L.
Elder, Mr.. Marshan's personal represents
ative. said:
when the name Of Mr. Edwards is
properly. effectually and conclusively
withdrawn from the Indiana primaries
we will withdraw the name of Mr.
Marshall. l am personally very glad to
hear OF Mr. Edwards intentions as it
never was the desire of Mr.. Marshall TO
have the Indiana delegation pledged to
any one"
DEMOCRATS OF STATE
EQUALLY SATISFIED.
The action of Mr.. Edwards in with
drawing his name from the Indiana
primaries will be greeted with great sat
/ isfaction by all the democrats of the
state who have seen in It's entrance moth
ing more than a smooth scheme on the
part Of republicans to crystalize wet
sentiment In the democratic party ranks
and to provoke a lack of harmony which
might react to the advantage of re-
publicans.
No political observer who attempts un-
prejudiced observation will deny that the
anti-saloon sentiment in Indiana is suf-
fcient TO overwhelm all the noise that a
hopeless minority might make in advo-
eating the overthrow of prohibition 1t
is realized that If the issue became one
between the vets and drys in the state.
the drys would win overwhelmingly, and
II the Issue were wet or dry in either
party. the drys would predominate
For that very reason even the literally
inclined deplored the injection of Ed
wards into the democratic primary owing
to the pronounced anti i-prohibition senti-
ment expressed by him in New Jersey.
His withdrawal will mean that there
will be no primary contest in Indiana
for Presidential delegates and the hopes
of Mr.. Marshall and Mr.. McAdoo for
uninstructed delegates will be realized.
Incidentally, the attitude of many In
diana democrats who were condemning
Edwards for allowing the use of his
name by the republicans and the vets.
has been changed by his expression on
the primary subject.
Edwards has more friends in Indiana
since his announced intention of with
drawing than he ever would have oh
tained by going through primary con-
test as a republican tool