Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-03-06
EDWARDS NAME
ON BALLOT DUE
TO 'FRAME-UP'
New Jersey Wet Entered in In
diana Primary by G. o. P.
Bipartisan Workers.
MARSHALL TO CONTEST

The petition filed with the secre-
tary of state asking that the name
of Gov. Edward l. Edwards Of New
Jersey be placed on the democratic
presidential ballot in Indiana was
wholly unauthorized by Gov. Edwards
and bears many earmarks Of having
been the offspring of a 'frame-up'
between republicans who have been
and are now endeavoring to interfere
In the democratic political affairs Of
Indiana and certain democrats who
have been induced to help them
either through ignorance or personal
greed.
Tho petition vas placed on file bv Ira
/. Sawin, who rooms at 295J North
Illinois street. ana is practically unknown
in Indianapolis. Mr.. Sawin made the fol-
lowing statement concerning it:
"The petition was not authorized by
Mr. Edwards. 1t was gotten up within
about twenty-four hours by local people
who decided they wanted Edwards name
on the ballot. Some are practically un-
known men and others are prominent.
The movement was purely local and was
not made by any agent Of Gov. Edwards
or by any organization with which he
IS connected. We are Of the opinion that
Il is valid, nevertheless. At least We
have been SO advised"
PETITION SIGNED
IN DRY-BEER SALOON
Among the peculiarities of this un-
authorized effort TO make Mr.. Edwards
a candidate for the presidency in Indiana
are these facts:
I. That the petitions appeared
shortly after VIII Fl. Hays. national
republican chairman, arrived in In
dtanapolis to speak at the Columbia
club at the first of series of din
ners which had been announced for
the purpose of hearing presidential
aspirants."
?. That the petitions were placed
at the stegemeier dry beer saloon. ad-
Joining the property Of the Indian
apolis News, and much frequented by
the employees OF the News. and
great part of the $50 names signed
to it were gathered there.
3. That the first agency TO give
public notice of the petitions was
the Indianapolis News, which paper
appeared TO have been fully advised
of their circulation, the intent of the
circulatOrs and the places at which
as they were put in circulation.
4. That the names the petitions
are numbered with lead pencil and
encircled In way that is almost pc
culiar to newspaper men, and indi-
Gates that the petitions were carefully
checked by a newspaper man before
they were submitted TO the secretary
Of state.
S. That the filing of the petition
Wi " NJ
fully timed so as to synchronize
with the edition time Of the News
and still give supporters OF other
candidates as little time az possible
In which to take action for their
own favorites.
6. That another petition was
placed at the Grand hotel which is
midway between republican state
headquarters and the News office and
the stationery of the Grand hotel
was used in the preparation of the
petition showing without doubt
that the person who originated the
movement had been in the Grand
hotel, and might have been the same
person who conferred there Thurs
day afternoon with two republican
state workers who rented a room
there for that purpose.
The peculiar conditions that made il
desirable for the republican bipartisan
workers in Indiana who were organ
Bed several months ago to inject Ed !
wards Into the Indiana primary were
Brought about By the reluctancy Of Vice /
President Marshall and william G. Nc
Adoo to seek Instructed delegates from (
Indiana Mr.. Marshall first declared that
be would not enter a primary as n can
didate for the presidency. william G. /.
NcAdoo declared that he would not seek /
Instructed delegates In any state and /
requested his friends not to enter his
name in any primary contest. Petitions .
for both Mr. Marshall and Mr.. McAdoo /
had been circulated in Indiana and there /
was great glee among the republicans !
when it appeared that the two men would +
be entered in the primary and a fight /
made against Marshall in his home state. /
afcADOO AND MARSHALL
MEN IN UNDERSTANDING.
In the interests of party harmony aud /
IN Difference to the wishes Of GIr. Nc /
Adoo, his friends placed petitions for /
him in the hands of Walter Myers an /
attorney, with the understanding that /
Mr. Myers would not file the petitions /
unless the Marshall supporters attempted /
to pledge the Indiana delegation to Mar
shall through the filing of a Marshall !
petition.
they would not file petition unless
1t became necessary to do so in order
to prevent any other candidate from
pledging the delegation by default Of
other names on the ballot
The McAdoo and Marshall supporters
agreed to hold up petitions for each .
and to permit the Indiana delegates to
go to the primaries uninstructed and
were prepared to carry out that agree
ment when the Edwards petition was
found by McAdoo supporters to he on |
the files in the office of the secretary of .
state.
After the Edwards petition was filed
William L. Elder, representing Mr. Mar
shall, appeared at the secretary of states
office with a Marshall petition and went
into conference with McAdoo supporters.
1t was agreed at this conference that the .
safest way to prevent Edwards from seiz-
ing the delegation was TO file the Mar
shall petition with the understanding
that in event the Edwards petition was
later withdrawn the Marshall petition
would also be withdrawn. Mr. Elder
also declared that it was not Mr. Mar