Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-12-06
NEW KEPT BUSY
DODGING WHILE
FIXING FENCES
Political Interest Centers in
Postmastership - Quiet
Conference Likely.

While United States Senator Harry s.
New IL building his fences in his race
for denomination he also is forced TO play
a game Of hide-and seek with the nu
merous candidates for the postmaster
ship Of indianapolis who are bringing
and having brought considerable pressure
upon him for is endorsement.
And while Senator New is having a
hard time making himself unavailable to
the applicants for his favor. Mayor-elect
Samuel Lewis Shank, regarded as another
force in the postmastership race, was
enjoying temporary security from the
onslaughts of the support seekers on
cross-country- trip from Hot Springs,
Ark. to Memphis, Tenn. Before he can
be located there he probably VIII have
left for Louisville. KY, and by the prae-
tice of a little ingenuity It is possible
that he may get all the way back to
Indianapolis late this week without
reaching the stage where he wishes there
We're no such thing as a postmaster.
For weeks politicians have regarded the
postmastership as being almost certain
to be given 10 Frederick E. Schortemeier,
secretary Of the Republican State commit
tee, or City Controller Robert H. Bry-
son. They thought that right after the
municipal election the long delay in su-
perseding Robert E Springsteen, Demo
cratic incumbant, with a Republican,
would be broken. But a United States
Senator and a Congressman Of the Sew
enth District are to be nominated and
elected next year. and Senator New an
Representative Merrill Moores still are
understood to be undecided as to whom
they viii recommend for the postmaster
ship.
Since Edward J. Robson, original
Shank choice, was found TO be ineligible
because Of being over the age limit,
most Of the Shank lieutenants have ex-
pressed preference for Mr.. Bryson. Mr..
Bryson came out OF the News-Jewett
camp and worked for the election of Mr..
Shank after Thomas c. Howe and Mr..
Ralston were defeated In the primary.
But Mr. Schortemeier entered the post
mastership race and politicians figured
that he would not be an applicant unles;
he were practically certain that he had
the appointment tied up.
SHANK DENIES
BACKING ANYBODY.
In the face of reports that Mr.. Shanl
had pledged himself to Mr.. Bryson, Rob-
ert Acre, a primary lieutenant of Mr.
Robson, announced today that he had
received a message from the mayor-elect
Saying that he is not backing any Of the
applicants.
Meanwhile It is understood that Sena-
tor New has been quietly seeking to ar
range a meeting with Shank leaders. Il
was thought that this conference might
be held even before Mr.. Shank gets back
to the city and that results Of important
bearing upon the postmastership contest
would come out Of IT.
So far as is known, the civil service
commission has not certified to the Post
master General the three applicants re-
ceiving the highest rating from the post
Office and civil service inspectors who
Investigated them several weeks ago. I'm
der President Harding's ruling the Post
master General must select one Of these
three
One Of the applicants for the post
mastership said that the inspectors said
before they left the city that the names
Of the three high men would be given to
the press at Washington as soon as they
were certified to the postmaster general
Mr.. Shank will face another important
problem when he returns. 1t was an
nounced yesterday by William II. Armi-
tage, who had just returned from visit
with the Shank party at Hot Springs,
that the mayor elect intended to offer the
Democratic membership on the board Of
public safety to Mrs. Shank. Today It
was announced that Mrs. Shank had re-
fused the post.
Before he left the city. Mr.. shank had
Andrew Wall and Edwin H Beck under
consideration for this place. In view
Of his offer to Mrs. Shank, It is thought
he has dropped both Mr.. VAIL and NJ.
Beck and viii try to decide upon some
one else when he returns. 1t is under
stood that Mr.. Beck can have another i'm
portant post in the administration IL he
Will accept II.