The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-04-10
PRIMARY
CAMPAIGN
DULL ONE
Political DOpesters Find
State Campaign Peculiar
in Many Respects
BY MAURICE EARLY


by-election OF 1915 a Republican
primary race Of state wide impor-
tance is nearing the close without
the familiar resounding Of the bat
tie clashes. Primary Day, May 2. is
but three weeks from Tuesday and
the political dopesters are sagely
remarking this is one OF the most
peculiar campaigns 1 have ever
seen" %
NO HEATED DEBATES
When asked just what they mean
by peculiar the usual reply is that
there is no demonstration OF great
public interest in the contest. They
declare there are no heated debates
on the street corners of the larger
cities over issues or the relative
ability of the candidates for the
United States senatorship on the Re-
publican side Instead of an army
of speakers going over the state
stumping for the candidates there
are only six or seven speakers in
the field on each side.
NO FLOOD OF oRAToRY
Of course, from now on there will
be more speaking, but from indica-
tions there will be no great food
of oratory Albert J. Beveridge will
make about thirty speeches during
| the next three weeks. Senator
Harry S. New may find some time TO
return to Indiana for q few speeches
but at best he viii not be able to
go over great portion Of the state.
In his recent speeches, Mr.. Bever-
idge has been advocating the nomi-
nation of either himself OF Senator
New by an overw helming majority
! in order that the nominee may be
armed with the verdict Of great
| popular approval
NO LANDSLIDE PREDICTED
From all indications the persons
in close touch with the campaign
assert there will be TO landslide in
this campaign. BY landslide they
mean a plurality of about $4,000 for
the winner They declare that one
of the reasons for their prediction
is the prospect Of A light vote.
Another element which Is entering
into the Republican campaign is the
very strong likelihood that there
| will be few Democrats going 10 the
polls asking for Republican ballots
In the hard fought contests Of re-
cent years on the Republican side.
many Democrats have taken sides.
sEMBLANCE OF CONTEST
This year there is a sembiance of
a contest on among the Dem ocrats.
| Samuel M. Ralston and Dan w. Sims
are contesting for the support of
| certain element In the party and
DR.. Jesse Sanders IS out after those
with wet leanings. 1t is generally
conceded that the Democrats are
| going to stay on their own side Of
| the fence May 2
There is one thing that is causing
the campaign managers TO sit up at
night. This is the attitude Of the
|! Hoosier farmer on Primary Day.
Throughout Indiana, and especially
in the central and northern part.
farm work IS from two to three
weeks late because Of the rainy sea-
son.
NO POLLS TAKEN
The bad condition of the roads
have served TO isolate many OF the
rural voters They have not been
at, vnding the few meetings which
haV been neld, There have been
no \ Ills taken Therefore. in the
background Of this whole campaign
sits the farmer-his mouth closed
and the campaign managers are si--
ting at their desks wondering
whether he will vote at all or II he
does how viii he vote.
In the cities il is not so hard to
arrive at some conclusion. In all
the larger towns of Indiana there
seems TO be decided drift in favor
OF senator New. This is particular
ly true of Indianapolis. where the
Senator has the backing of a large
portion of the colored vote.
FIGURING on MARION co.
OF this there is net the slightest
doubt 1t is reasonable to presume
that the white Republican vote IN
indianapolis will not so overwhelm-
ing for either candidate. AS there
are from $1,000 10 10000 colored
voters in Indianapolis and as there
will be total primary vote in
Marion county of about 10000 II
seems very likely that Senator New
viii come out of his homo county
with a plurality OF several thou
sand
The death cf Benjamin Bosse was
a severe blow to democracy OF In
diana. As mayor OF Evansville he
was able to cause the Republicans
great deal Of worry in the first
district 1t is generally believed no
Democrat is available in Evansville
to assume the control or affairs
which was 50 effectively handled by
the late mayor.
DEATH SEVERE BLOW
But his death was even a more
severe blow TO the state democratic
organization Mr. Bosse and Thomas
Taggart OF French Lick were ,re
war horses who injected not only
financial but moral pep into the
forces Of the party, OF late Mr..
Taggart has not shown the same
zeal he has demonstrated in previous
years Bosse was the grow ing hg-
ure in the party and there was every
indication he would ba the choice OF
the leaders for the nomination for
governor in 1924. With Bosse gone,
there is no outstanding timber to
carry this party standard year after
next.
The declarations of candidacy for
state senator fled with the secretary
OF state reveal that only seven Of
the twenty-five senator's who retire