Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-11
WATSON GRIP
ON HIS PARTY
HOLDS TIGHT
Senator's Star Rises
to Pinnacle of
Power.
TWO BIG EVENTS
Defeat of New With
Success of Lyons
Significant.

The political star of Senator James e.
Watson was IN the ascendancy today, as
the result Of the defeat Of Senator Harry
S. New for denomination and the cap
ture OF control Of the Republican State
organization by the Watson Mccray fac
ton. The combined power Of Senator
Watson and the StatehouSe political or
ganizatiou proved sufficient TO override
all semblanea Of opposition to the reor-
ganizatioa Of the State committee and
the naming Of Lawrence Lyons State
chairman at :he meeting Of the new State
committee at the Hotel SEVERN.
While the committee was in session
Senator Watson called on the long dis
tance telephone from Washington to tell
the members that he would be on the
Job IN the campaign 70 help put over
the ticket When the Sixth district fight
went before the committee George FL
lott, former mayer Of Newcastle, and
Watson man, was given his creden-
tials after a tie had continued among
rhe county chairmen OF the Sixth dis
trtct for twenty-four hours. EiIiott's
vote was not needed by those favorinG
Lyons for State chairman. however.
TO MAKE PLANS
FOR CONVENTION.
u
chairman which Will meet Friday after
noon with Frederick z. Schortemeier,
reelected secretary, to make plans for
the State convention, May Il and IS.
This committee consists ot Lyons. char
man, ex-officio; Lawrence Cartwright.
William Z. Reiley, Daley f. Mccoy
and Clyde A Webb. The selection OF
a temporary chairman who will deliver
the keynote address, 4 permanent chair
man and other officers OF the convention
will be made at that time.
One member Of the committee maxim ;
arrangements for the convention said
the keynote speaker would probably be
a man closely identified with the Hard
ing administration. Senator Watson
has seut word that he does rot desire
to make the opening address but that he
will attend and deliver an address.
An echo OF the Sixth district contest
was heard IN an appeal TO the State
committee yesterday as 6 result of the
naming OF Robert s y. OIhand, char
man of the Hancock County central com
mittee Unfair use Of proxies and other
irregularities were alleged. The State
committee decided TO refer the appeal &c
the Sixth district chairman.
PLATFORM LIST
TO BE MODIFIED.
A proposed platform advisory commit
tee of fifty, selected by the former chair
man, E NJ Wasmuth, was turned over
TO the new chairman who may hake some
notifications In the list Of names sug-
gested, II was said. A committee On ways
and means consisting OF ". ]. Robinson
George II. Poland and Mark Nebeker was
named by Chairman Lyons.
- 4
There was no contest Of strength in the
actual meeting, VIXEN 1t was found In a
caucus held prior TO the gathering tha;
Lyons had a majority. When Lyons had
been named Mr.. Wasmuth made brief
speech, saying he had served on the State
committee eight years and he believed
long enough" He pointed 10 the de-
moraIized condition of the Republican
party in 1914 when he said: "Repub-
Hcans had TO pat each other on the back
TO make themselves think they had .
chance" and contrasted that sttuation
with the present He said the Republican
party had reached the hightst pinnacle Of
success.
LYONS SAYS HE IS
READY FOR WORK.
Lyons spoke briefly. following Was
uuth. He said he was ready to take
his coat of and 90 to work. All dEer-
ences had been forgotten and he was
confident Of Republican success in the
fall.
A unanimous vote OF thanks was ex-
tended by the committee to the retiring
chairman.
The election OF Nr Schortemeier ID
serve again as secretary Of the commit
tee was moved by Committeeman Durrt
OF the First district, who made the mo
tion for Lyons election. Schortemeiel
was elected without dissenting vote
Committeeman Walb Of the Twelfth dis
trict, who represented a district -,hict
favored Senator New In the pri-.ary. but
swung his support TO Lyons, was SLATED
TO be vice chairman Of the committee
and William C. Bobbs Of this city treas
urer. a motion was adopted, however
pestponinC the naming Of vice chair
man and treasurer and to name q com.
mitree to amend the rules 70 permit tht
naming of several vice ehairmen, includ
ing women members.
After the state coramittee meeting, q
conference af Harry s. New, defeated
candidate for Senator: f NJ Wasmuth
former chairman. and Charles w. Jewett
ex-mayor Of Iadia Aapolis. was held. VIII
the exception If Wasmuth none Of thess
three had any part in the State commit