The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-10-27
WATSON FOR "A
SOUNDS GOOD
To HOLSTERS
Legislator Sure to Make Bid
for Nomination in Case of
Break, Says Hard.

ANO4kA1NkA1 OAAEOS 4Au.S OCIs a."
There is absolutely no doubt
here among informed Republicans
that if Hiram Johnson or Clifford
Pinchot or anybody else comes
out as an avowed candidate
against Coolidge for the Repub-
lican Presidential nomination, the
result will at once be that the
ranks of the contestants for White
House honors will be swelled by
the large presence of James E.
Watson, Indiana's present senior
United States Senator.
Seen AS G. 0. p. Hero.
The Watson worshippers here
are not merely in favor of Watson
for our next President but are quite
at loss to understand why. the
country did not make him Presi-
dent long ago. They regard him as
a Republican hero beyond compare.
They will admit that there are
other men who also are great, but
LQey Will EOI dAAAAAb bh0S SAS.O -
anybody else who is comparable to
Watson as a banner bearer OF mill
tant republicanism.
He is their Napoleon and they
will go to Chicago or Moscow or
anywhere else for him. They ex-
pect both johnson and PinchOt to
declare against Coolidge, and as
soon as either of those declarations
has been made they expect to see
the. chance to step forward with a
declaration for Watson the won
drous.
The intensity OF this feeling
among! them is well known here,
and it is also well known that 1t
does not seem to die down among
them after they have conversed
with Mr.. Watson himself. The
best conclusion from all the evil
dence Is that Watson does not in
tend to take the lead in coming out
as a rival to Coolidge, but that
II Coolidge is going to have any
rivals he is going to feel free to
be among them.
Chance Better Now.
It happens that locally he is bet
ter situated for Presidential en-.
deavor than he was in the last
Presidential year. He then-in
1920-put forth a feeler toward get
ting the Indiana delegates to the
Republican national convention. He
was checked by the Governor
Goodrich Hays-Senator New
faction. AT that time that faction
was in control Of the Indiana State
Republican organization. Two years
later-ifi 1922-the Watson faction
gained the upper hand.
1t today Is credited with still
possessing a majority in the Re-
publican State committee. Wat.
sons friends are inclined to hope
that harmony therefore will prevail
and that IL Watson comes forward
as a candidate he will have behind
him a reasonably united Republican
Indiana party organization strength.
This hope is not entirely verified
by the talk of Watson's Repub.
lican factional enemies but Wat.
sons friends are trustful that they
can bring about certain cessation
Of internal Republican strife
here and can go to the Re.
publican national convention with
son delegation. Their own en-.
unquestioned.
Watson q Potentially,
Indiana Is thus fitted out with a
Democratic Presidential favorite son
in the person of Senator Ralston
and a Republican Presidential DO.
tential favorite son in Senator
n 4.
standpoint Ration is an actually
for the Democrats and Watson a
tenttality-delightfu to some and
distressful to others-for the Re.
publicans. The organized labor
element here has been in large part
strongly opposed to Watson. He is
regarded by the element as q
capitalistic stand-patter.
1t never has been able. however,
to stop his career. He has much
strong support from among manu-.
facturers and other business men.
He is far from such bur he would
have many friends who would will.
ingly subscribe to the necessary ex.
penses for a campaign to promote
his candidacy. He is "very skill
full In whooping it up" for the
Republican party at political meet
ings.
A general view here is that
Albert Beveridge is a better
patriotic speaker but that Jim Wat.
son is better Republican speaker.
He would run as a rock-ribbed
Republican, favored by considerable
business interests, equipped with a
reasonable campaign fund, and
impelled by band of followers who
regard him as the modern Re-
publican plumed knight after the
order of James G.. Blaine.
They intend his candidacy de-
votedly and emphatically.
Copyright. 1923. Washington Press
Service.)