Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-02-18
By HAROLD C. FEIGHTNEB.

BY HAROLD C. FEIGHTNEB.
The week just ending has been replete
with political activities OF much i'm
portance that all thoughts Of a quiet and
uneventful primary have been laid aside
and once more Indiana politicians are
girding themselves for a bitter struggle.
The events which have set the people
talking, which have filed the editorial
columns and which have caused the SO
called leaders TO start buzzing In circles
are, briefly summarized, these;
1. The formal entry Of Albert J. Bev-
eridge, formerly United States Senator,
into the race for the Republican nomina-
ton against Senator Harry S. New.
q The declination Of Samuel NJ Raj
ston, formerly Governor Of Indiana, to
seek the Democratic senatorial nomina-
tion.
3 The Democratic editorial banquet,
which revealed q whole woods fun Of
congressional and State candidates and
which, according to leaders, put the party
on a better fighting basis than it has
been for years.
Mr.. Beveridge entered the lists at a
weIl-staged coming out PARTY at his
home on Washington boulevard here
Thursday afternoon, but, much to the
disappointment Of many Of his followers
and to the discontinue Of his opponents.
he failed to elucidate his platform. Mas
ter strategist and pubhcist that he is,
the former Senator delayed that impor-
tant part Of his campaign until the eyes
of the State are again sufficiently TO-
cused upon him to make the formal an
nouncement of his platform principles an
event Of unusual news Importance.
Mr.. Beveridge reasoned, and not with
out foundation, that his acceptance of the
invitation to become a candidate would
give him ample front page space for a
day and that he could repeat to good ad-
vantage when he delivers his platform
message.
While the Beverldge party could in no
way be compared to a great popular
demonstration, it was well representative
of Indiana and it was said practically
every county had an emissary present,
who, on returning to his home, will be
come the nucleus Of the organization the
former Senator hopes to have in the field
before primary day, May 4.
Despite the apparently sincere appeals
Of the Beyeridge leaders for clean cut
campaign in which personalities are for
gotten, the preliminary maneuvering Of
both the Beveridge and New camps indt-
Gates the contest is going to be far re-
moved from Cuuudy SCuOOl ueDdJe anu
there is every likelihood, before long the
leaders, if not the principals themselves,
Will lie calling each other by their right
names.
Foremost IN carrying the offensive to
the enemy has been Mas samuel Lewis
Shank of indianapolis, who was one OF
the first officials to Leap ON the Bever-
idge band wagon. Mayor Shank never
WAS Of the kid glove" type of speaker,
and he had no more. than taken the stump
when he began to refer to Senator New
as "Mayflower New" a witticism upon
the Senator's frequent week end trips
down the Potomac with President Hard
ing on the Presidential yacht MayfloN er
and ''Newberry New" a thrust al the
Senator's vote in seating the Michigan
Senator.
Charles A Bookwalter, former mayor
of Indianapolis and an ardent Shank
worker during the mayoralty campaign
here, took up the cudgel for Senator New
anG retaIiated with a viciousness that
indicates the trend Of the factional strife.