The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-01-07
WILL BEvERIDGE
DISPUTE NEWS
SENATE SEAT?
Ex-Senator's Movements Are
Watched by Washington
Work as Author Adds to
Picturesque Public Record.
| MEN ARE CONTRASTED
BY MARK SULLIVAN

coming senatorial and congressional
primaries, which are now uppermost
among those who follow national poll
tics closely, there is one ever-present
question. 1t asks: "Will Beveridge
really rum" The Indiana ex-senator's
movements are followed with the most
watchful care, and the shadings of his
lghtest words are examined minutely
for light on his intentions.
The question must soon be an
swered, for the Indiana primaries
come May q So far, Beveridge does
not commit himself. but his motions
look increasingly and, to the old or
ganization Republicans, menacingly
like those of a man who viii soon be
candidate. He is travelling about
Indiana making addresses on John
Marshall to county bar associations,
! and on other subjects to schools and
| churches. Meantime, an energetic cor
respondence is going on among his
| friends, looking to petitions and the
| other features of an organized cam
paign.
The sitting senator who will seek
| reelection is Harry S. New If Bev-
eridge doesn't run, New will be re-
nominated without serious opposition.
Everybody takes it for granted that.
barring Beveridge, no one can make
any sort of fight against New. But if
Beveridge comes out, there will be a
fight that will not only stir Indiana
to the grass roots, but will engage in
tent national attention.
New, Organization Man
New is an organization Republican.
l. L..
but within the party in the nation.
In a contest with Beveridge he would
have the support of nine-tenths of the
| Indiana organization.
| How far the national organization,
or the administration would go toward
| taking an open part in News behalf,
would probably be limited only by die
tates of prudence. But that he would
have the good wishes of the national
organization and the administration ad-
mits of no doubt
Everybody in Washington knows not
only that Harding wanted New in his
cabinet, but also that in an intimate
and personal way New is very close to
the White House. That this fact will
weigh much in his favor with depend
able party men among the Republican
voters of Indiana goes without saying.
Harding Strong
In Indiana, as throughout the coun-
try, Harding is strong not only with
his own party, but with the voters gen
orally. That sort of popularity, as ev-
cry politician knows, and as has occa-
sionalIy been demonstrated in the
cases of other presidents, is as fickle
as the favor of the gods; but there is
not now in sight any probability. of
any change in sentiment about Hard
ing such as would help Beveridge if
he should be running next 2nd of May
in the role of opposition to an admin
istration favorite.
Just what issues will be raised if
Beveridge should run is not yet clear.
He could hardly hope for success I'M
less he should be able to dramatize
the fight in such a way as to make
himself the beneficiary of whatever
discomfort may now exist or may later
arise with the present record of the
Republican senate, and of New per-
sonally as one of the responsible lead
ers of it. So far as Beveridge in his
speeches has raised any definite issues
up to date, he has given voice to criti-
cism of the new tax bill, and to advo-
cacy of soldiers bonus.
Tax Bill Dissatisfies
1t is undoubtedly true that in Indi
ana, as elsewhere. there is formidable
dissatisfaction with the new tax bill
It is also true that New, as a loyal
party man, and as one of the Repub-
lican senate leaders voted for the bill
and must be held responsible for It,
But if Senator New is resourceful
enough, or fortunate enough, to be
able to make the more minute aspects
J of his record convincing to the voters
! he can point out that he voted in fa-
yor of the unsuccessful efforts made
in the senate to amend the tax bill in
: just those particulars which compose
: the bulk of Beveridge's criticisms.
New voted for the repeal of the high
surtaxes, for dating back the repeal Of
) the excess profits tax in 1921, and for
7 the sales tax. Unhappily for Senator
+ New, however, as a matter of prac-
tical profits, the voter, in the simple
form to which the electorate usually
reduces issues, is likely TO focus at
e tention on the main vote on the bill
= as whole, and to ignore the votes on
unsuccessful amendments.
; Protects Himself.
AS to the other issue Beveridge has
$ so far raised, it is true that New voted
: against the soldiers bonus, but in do
ing so protected himself in such de-
gree as he could by making a speech
o. in which he said he would favor the
n bonus, whenever the treasury could
o stand it. New also may be helped by
f the now apparent fact that the Repub-
d licans are going to pass bonus bill
this year although they will need to
hurry it if it is to be in time to help
2 New May 2.
4 Incidentally. these same issues are
e the ones which will figure generally
in the considerable number of states
v in which during the next few months.
: organization Republican senators, run
+ ming for denomination, will be op.
n posed by New men,
! Beveridge Faction
y In Beveridge's case, he will be abe
{ to rely, in addition to whatever dis.
: content there is with the record of
i the present senate, on much wider
: and deeper factors. Beveridge. in any
! way you view il, is a most distin-
!, guished public man. However strong
l