The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-10-19
The Scramble Begins

C7NOTHER political storm has broken
M Hardly had the last clod of earth fall
len on the coffin of Samuel M. Ralston IN the
little Lebanon cemetery when the scramble
over the appointment of his successor began.
Governor Ed Jackson has before him the
unenviable task Of naming Ralston S successor,
to serve until the next State election, when In
diana will elect two Senators, one to succeed
Jim Watson and one to complete the unexplred
term of Senator Ralston
Regardless of whom jackson appoints, ne
is bound to make enemies, for there are tac-
tons in the Republican party so numerous
that anv appointee will be opposed. To add to
Jackson's difficulties, it is reported that he
would like to be Senator himself lie coulu
hardly find a man who would agree not TO De-
come candidate next year, thus giving Jack
son an opportunity. Of course, there is the
alternative of jackson resigning and permit
tino Harold Van Orman, who would become
Governor to appoint him. In fact, Van Orman
already has given out an interview, published
in Evansville, on 'FWhat l would do II were
Governor" But it hardly appears likely that
Van Orman will become Governor, at least not
at this time.
- Albert J. Beveridge who was defeated by
7alston in 1922, is definitely candidate Tor
gizthe appointment and may be appointed. Bev-
Grid ge s personal publicity agency IS endeavof
u inc to convince the public that he IS the man
for the place The majority of the voters ala
not think so two years ago. But, Oh COURSE
It would be impossible to appoint another Sam
Ralston and Beveridge may really be second
choice Of the voters Beveridge, however, GER
tainly would not agree to step aside next year
and permit jackson to be candidate
Beveridge has had peculiar political his
tory. or. rather his reactions to political events
have been rather inconsistent. In 1872 we
found Beveridge in the Bull Moose fold, light
ing away with the progresslves. Ten years
later when he was candidate for the Senate,
he revealed himself as one of the most reac-
tionarv of the reactionaries. In fact 1t was
this very thing that brought about his defeat.
The people of Indiana, remembering l9l2,
voted for Beveridge in the primary IN prefer
ence to the Irregular" Republican, Harry ..
New. Then in the election Beverldge out
Viewed New and was defeated by the voters
who already had expressed their opposition to
this attitude.
N What Beveridge would do now if he is ap-
pointed Senator is hard to predict One thing
is certain He would not vote for the Dawes
scheme to change the Senate rules Beverage
has expressed himself believing the Dawes
program would result in disaster. 1t is just
possible that Beverdge could not always be
depended on to be regular" and for this rea-
iobt haV
Of the Administration at Washington; and it
is very likely that Jackson, with his own pollt-
cal ambitions in mind, will seek the approval OF
President Coolidge before announcing an ap-
pointment.
Everett Sanders of Terre Haute, former
CONGRESSMAN and now secretary to the Presl~
dent, is being mentioned as possibility. San
ders is not known to the voters of Indiana out
side his own district. 1t is probable that ap-
pointment of Sanders would be approved by
the Administration at Washington, but San
ders is a young man and has been described as
a man with promising future. 1t is not likely
that once he is in the Senate he would agree
to step aside in favor of the man who appoint
ed him.
Arthur R. Robinson, Indianapolis attor
ney, also is being mentioned Robinson and
jackson have been close friends, but the APP
pointment Of Robinson certainly would have
the opposition of large part of the community
and for this reason he probably has not very
strong chance.
There are dozens of hard working Repub
licans in Indiana who would jump at the OPP
portunity to 60 to the Senate and Jackson has
wide choice 1t is possible that the Gov
ernor is not seriously considering any of the
men mentioned.
1t seems too bad that Senator Ralstons
successor can not be man who will follow
Ralston s ideas and policies. After ALL it was
the Will of the voters to be so represented for
six years. But our political system makes
snch thing imnosshle The good of the party