Evening star., 1924-10-18
PRESIDENT LEADING.
FOR INDIANA VOTE.
State Fight, However, Ad.
mittedIy Is Damaging
G. O.P. Cause.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

INDIANAPOLIS, october 1S.-PreSl-
dent Coolidge has the lead in Indiana.
but the complications over the State
tickets are giving the Democrats hope
that on election day the resentment of
the voters on local issues will be SO
strong that many Of them will take
no chances of a scratched ballot and will
vote the straight Democratic ticket.
Even the Republicans admit that is
a danger and just now the friction be-
tween the national Republican leaders
for Coolidge and the State
managers campaigning for
Ed Jackson, the klan-indorsed candi-
date for governor, is so manifest that
it will take considerable ironing out be-
fore Indiana's political behavior can be
finally assessed.
The Democrats have made strong
anti-Klan fight. They have gone further
than ever before to get the negro vote.
and there are some signs that they will
get it in large quantities. They have
corralled others who are the objects OF
attacks by the Klan. One cannot un-
the bitterness OF feeling
which the Khan controversy has pro-
voked.
Ed Jackson was secretary of State
when the Klan charter was issued. He
is said to argue he was not in the
capital the day when the charter was
given, but he has made no pubic state
ment about it. The general impression.
which he has not repudiated, Is that he
is identified with the Khan.
&. o. y. Sees Damage.
The friends of President Coolidge
like Joseph Keating. Republican ma
tional committeeman, have for some
time been disturbed about the pos
sible damage that might be done the
national ticket through the local
fight. Their tactics have been to keep
hands off. The Republican state chair
man, Clyde Walb, for instance, in
public statement criticises certain
for failing to give the
State ticket their support.
The one regrettable feature up
to this time, is the fact that certain
who, in the past, have en-
joyed favor at the hands Of the party
and who probably will expect to do
so again, are not taking an active
part in the campaign.
Some of them are doing nothing
for the national or State tickets.
Others are strong for Coolidge, but
are perfectly uuiescent when it comes
to the State and local tickets, think
ing in some way that their failure to
do anything for the State and local
tickets will help the national ticket.
How they reach this conclusion is
more than i know. SO while l feel
certain of success on election day on
all our tickets, l regret that TINS sue
cess, unless conditions change, wlA
be attained without the aid of GER
tain men who might have given as
sistance. An extensive speaking cam
paign will be started Immediately,
and every city, town and hamlet VIII
be covered"
Think New Faction Meant.
1t is generally supposed he meant
Ito Harry New faction. There have
been speakers in the State for the
ma 4 donal ticket, but they usually avoid
anything more than a passing refer
ence to the State ticket. The State
now have reached point IN
which they seriously believe the
chances Of Coolidge will be affected
unless they get the whole-hearted CO.
operation of the national Republican
organiza ton. Some of the latter how
ever, think it is safter to keep hands
of so as to get both pro-klan and anti
klan support. For President Coolidge
himself has thus far been kept aloof
from the klan controversy.
Virtually the same situation exists
here as in Colorado, where the senti-
ment for Coolidge is not in any way
related to the local controversy over
the Klan. The effect of the scratching
of ballots, especially on voting ma
is already being discussed, for
the voter with grievance will wish
to make sure that he has voted cor
rectly on that, irrespective Of anything
else.
Were it not for the State controversy,
President Coolidge would carry In
diana by 100000. If he wins the State
It will be by, perhaps, half that figure,
which may be called close since the
days of woman suffrage and large
La Toilette Strong.
The La Toilette strength in Indiana
Is not inconsiderable. Railroad labor
and radicals and some farmers are
going over to the third party ticket.
Opinions vary as to whether this vote
Is coming in larger numbers from the
Democratic than the Republican
party, but in the cities, to be sure, the
will contribute more to
La Toilette than in the country dis
tricts. The controversy over the
State ticket has driven some of the
Independent voters to the La Toilette
standard, and altogether Indiana is
much more difficult to analyze this
year than it was four or eight years
ago.
To summarize, the most that can be
said Of Indiana at this time is that il
the election were held tomorrow
President Coolidge would carry 1t.
The Democrats. stimulated by the re-
cent visit of John w. Davis, are by no
means inclined to concede Indiana.
Mr. Davis put heart into the organi-
zation and made a good impression
with his speeches. The Republicans
thought enough Of Indiana to send
Secretary of State Hughes here and
they are sparing no effort. They act
as If they think they ought to win
he State for Coolidge. but they are by
no means cocksure. The President
has the advantage at present and,
barring unforeseen developments in
the controversy over the State ticket,
the national ticket becomes
involved in the Klan fight, Indiana
may be counted ultimately for Cool
Idge.
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