Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-07-04
IPROHI MACHINE
TO SUPPORT NEW
IN PRIMARIES?
PrOgressives of G. o. p, Who
Backed Harding, Opposed
by Federal App0intees.

Bull Moosers Of the old Roosevelt days,
Hoosier Progressives who battled through
two bitterly contested campaigns for Al
bert J. Beveridge. only to be kidded and
cajoled back into the stand-pat ranks
last year where they Loyalty supported
their former enemy, President Harding,
must have q feeling somewhat akin to
that of the man who has Just scraped the
gilt eff the high priced gold brick when
they take a look at what is happening
In the Republican end of the Federal
building these warm July days.
When the first batch of Federal ap-
pointments we're announced, including n.
Burt Thurman Of New Albany for col
lector Of internal revenue and Bert Nor
gan Of Greensburg for Federal probibi-
ton officer it became very evident that
the Old Guard had the inside track at
Washington, and would get all the really
fat Federal appointments IN Indiana.
It began to dawn upo nthe former
NIoosers that to all intents and purposes
they were just as far, perhaps little
farther. from the Federal pie counter
as they had been in the days Of Demo
cratic control.
FEDERAL MACHINE
FIGHTS BEVERIDGE?
But they hardly were prepared for
what they now believe is taking place
the turning Of the prohibition enforce
ment department into one grand political
machine for the nomination OF Senator
New over Albert J. Beveridge In the prl-
mary fight next year.
The Federal prohibition department,
being about the youngest IN Uncle Sans
list. has so far escaped that bane Of every
politicians life, the civil service list.
Fewer employees OF this department are
subject 10 civil service than any other
department of the Government.
This, Of course, means that Democrats
on the field force can be canned ruth
lessly and their Jobs given to those who
are best politically" qualified for them
on the Republican side Of the fence And
under the administration Of Bert Nor
gan. prohibition director for Indiana,
there seems every likelihood that the
term best qualified" wiz be so con-
strued as to include only adherents Of
Senator New.
The new appropriation for prohibition
enforcement work for the coming year Is
lust about to become available and this
will mean that there VIII be many men
put TO work Incidentally the scope OF
the office has been greatly extended and
Mr. Morgan will have control of the pro-
hibiti6n agents that formerly operated
under the department Of internal revenue
from the Chicago office. a most incon-
venient arrangement. for how could Chi
ago be expected to know about tie ex-
igencies Of the Hoosier political situa-
ton? In fact there was the terrifying
thought that Chicago might not even give
a continental, dingbusted darn whether
Senator New was renOminated or bumped
of IN most humIliating fashion by the
meteoric Beveridge.
SMALL POLITICIANS
CALL ON MORGAN.
Il has been very noticeable that every
DAY long strings Of politically inclined
pstriots anxious to serve their nation
and their party. at a sufficient recon-
pense Of course, have been filing in and
out Of Mr. MorGan's office on the third
floor Of the Federal building. II has
been a matter Of comment among Bever-
idga adherents that the anti Beveridge
element OF the Republican party seem 10
have far longer and far more satisfac-
tory conferences with the rohibit!on Ill
rector than 90 the old Progressives and
they do not hesitate TO predict that when
the full list Of Apprentices becomes known
to the public it viii be found that a
strong. ate-wide New machine has
been constructed which viii lend the
Senator mighty effective aid in his fight
against Beveridge next spring.
Incidentally there have been stories Of
conferences held at n certain hotel in
which Mr. Morgan and Collector Of In
ternal Revenue Thurman have figured. II
Is rumored thu. Mr. Thurman was not II
all pleased when he entered upon ,lhc
duties Of his office and found thaE the
strong. long arm Of the civil seryite had
had most inconveniently tempered his
freedom Of action when, il came 10 tho
appointment Of Job hungry Republicans
The story goes tina. Nj Thurman and
Mr.. Morgan get toe ether in the evenings
far from the FEDERAL building and the
prying eyes OF Gnlookers and the press
and talk over Tthe important matter OF
supplying jobs to deserving Republicans
of the New for Senator" branch.
This myc be q great inconvenience Il
both Mr. Thurman and Mr.. Morgan. FOL
their offices are within fifty feet Of eacl
otheC~ on the third floor Of the Fedora
building, but few visits are paid back and
forth du ing business hours. But away
from business, away from the Federal
building after hOurs-well, that Is an
other ms tier entirely.
So the Beveridge Republicans Just cus'
and rave and talk about being double
/ crossed, and predict that Morgan 4;
about TO construct one OF the most eff
/ fective political machines IN the State