Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-12
SAYS
WATSON MAY
BE KEYNOTER
Republicans Select
Party Leader, It
Is Said.
ACTION DELAYED
Candidate Beyeridge
Meets With Sub
committee.

Senator James E. Watson was expected
to be chosen temporary chairman and
keynote speaker for the Republican State
convention, at a meeting of a subcom-
mlttee Of the Republican State commit
tee a. the Hotel SEVERN this afternoon.
While no definite announcement was
made, it is known Senator Watson was
asked to make the keynote speech. The
comm4ttee met at l o'clock, but took no
action pending the arrival of Albert j
Beyeridge, Republican nominee for the
Senate Mr.. Beveridge was expected to
meet with the committee at o'clock.
The selection of the keynote speaker
was also expected to determine the basis
of the Republican campaign in Indiana
this year With Watson men In control
OF the State committee they hold the
best strategic position and were ex-
pected to be figure in the
Harding Administration. Before the
meeting there had been no suggestion
/ that Beveridg would be asked to outline
the issues on which is to try to return
TO the Senate
While Beveridge in his primary cam
paign said repeatedly he expected to
stand by President Harding, it is ad-
mitted a large part of his vote was a
protest against the National Administra-
tion Without this protest Senator New,
close friend of President Harding. might
have been renominated, 1t is said. Many
Republican leaders took the protestation
Of his good faith and regularity with a
grain Of salt and preferred to Judge BeY-
eridge by his works
Beyeridse a an insurgent, supposed
ly, won the Republican nomination Bev-
eridge as regular and a standpatter
must run in November to be acceptab
to the State Republican organization.
POLITICIANS RECALL
POSITION IN 1910.
So far Beyeridge forces have asked
nothing aside from his nomina ton This
is in marked contrast, Republican poll
ticians say, with the campaign he made
in 1910 when he dictated the choice Of
State chairman, the organization and the
campaign practically made himself the
sole issue and went. down in defeat
The question being asked Is whether
Beveridge viii place himself completely in
the hands of his old enemies or will he
conduct a campaign typical of his past
When Senator Watson achieved what
his friends admit 10 be an ambition of
long standing-the control of the State
erganization-he did so partly through
the return to political life of that stormy
petrol whose presence as political fac
tor would help him and Harding little
Senator Watson and Senator New, tenn
permentally different, worked fairly we'll
together in the United States Senate
Watson with fiery impulse and New with
less obstrusive characteristics, coniicted
less thar combination such as Watson
and Beveridse.
WATsoN'S PURPOSE
CAUSES SPECULATION.
Why then did Watson and his friends
allow New TO go down in defeat without
making heroic efforts 10 rescue him. The
first answer Is, politicians say, control of
the State organization Is the first step on
the way toward what Senator Watson be-
lieves might be a presidential nomination
fer him, should Harding not run in 1924.
or should Harding run again which Is
regarded more probable. Watson would
be in a position TO sidetrack the deep
rooted ambition of Beveridge to be a Sec
ond Roosevelt. Beveridge with an i'm
pressive primary majority believes with
accrued prestige of the Senate he would
be presidential timber in 1924 on a basis
of revival of the old insurgent days.
Beveridge cannot make that kind Of q
campaign with the present State organ
ization behind him and his friends say
1t isn't in him to do otherwise.
Those who have endeavored to figure
the tactics of Senator Watson think he
may believe the elimination of Beveridge
altogether. as a factor after November
next, imminent, and thus leave him q
clear field as Indianas favorite son II
he seeks the nomination at the next
gathering of the Republican political
bosses in Chicago to name a candidats
for President
If the keynote speakers choice Is q
criterion of the Beveridge campaign for
denomination and means by the indorse-
ment Of the Harding Administration part
and parcel, Albert J. Beveridge, non,
partisan observers say, will lose that
support from those dissatisfied with
things as they are in the national Gov
ernment and that strength will 60 to
the Democratic nominee.