Evening star., 1923-12-09
.M'CRAY CUSTER
I IS c. 0. P. PROBLEM
Leaders Seek Way to Re.
move Governor Indicted
by Grand Jury.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. December s.
Now that Gov. Warren T. McCray
has been indicted on serious charges.
republican leaders are worrying
about how to get him out Of the
governors Office. They are fearful
that the campaign will come on with
Gov. McCray still administering the
affairs of state, with consequent
embarrassment to the republican
party. which nominated and elected
him three years ago.
So serious has the situation become.
from G. o. p. viewpoint. that CLYDE
A. Walb. state chairman, has been
holding series of conferences in
India napolfs this week with legfsla-
tive and party leaders to find a way
out Nothing definite has been de
termined. other than the knowledge
that practically every member of the
state committee. leaders high in the
councils OF the party and many re-
publican members of the legislature,
heartily wish they could wash their
hands Of the whole mess
Walb is feeling his way and does
not intend to commit another bIunder
such as marked the state committee
meeting on October /. The commit
teemen then were summoned to In
s
resignation. but public sympathy was
with McCray and the committee
passed the buck" to the Marion
county grand jury. Now Walb be-
lieves the public has lost confidence
in McCray. but nevertheless, he pro-
poses to take no chances.
Asked Watson Advice.
He has asked Senator James E.
Watson and the eight members of
the Indiana congressional delegation
at Washington for advice. At the
ference party leaders, editors of re-
publican newspapers and members of
the state legislature.
The governor insists that he will
not resign and there Is every indica-
ton that he will fight to the last
to retain his office.
Others who are anxious to see the
governor ousted see q CLEAN of hope
in the congressional reapportionment
bill, expected to be introduced in
Washington. If that bill is the
same as a previous measure and is
passed, II would cut Indiana's con-
gressional representation from thir-
teen to twelve and would necessitate
a session OF the assembly to redistrict
the state.
If that is done. Gov. McCray would
be obliged to call a special session,
but in doing so he could exercise
his constitutional right and limit the
assembly to consideration of reap
portionment alone. The Legislature
would therefore find itself in q
situation identical with that of a
New York legislature and would have
to reconvene itself a court of
Impeachment IL 1t was felt necessary
to proceed against the governor.
Senator Walter 8. Chambers, demo-
cratic state chairman, has somewhat
dampened the ardor of those repub-
licans who would like to see the
governor impeached He opposes
calling the Legislature in any other
but a legal way and asserts that he
would call the democratic members
together to decide whether they
would participate in an impeachment
session. Democratic votes would be
necessary to impeach Gov. McCray,
as the republicans have only a bare
majority In each house. Democratic
leaders take the position that this Is
a republican quarrel and they are not
taking kindly to impeachment talk.
HAROLD c. FEIGHTNER.