Evening star., 1925-08-25

road laws of Missouri. Later he was
president of the Missouri Good Roads
Fedora ton, which pa ssed a $50, 900 900
bond issue for roadway Improvement
In addition to his printed propa ga nda
RAVES is making personal campaign
at county fairs, farmers picnics and
other meetings of the plain people
Representative Hawes has wet repu-
tation, which does not depopularize
him In Missouri. Former Gov. Gard
ner Is the expressed choice of a ma
Jority OF State democratic editors
In Kentucky only one Republican
and one Democrat are as vet seriously
mentioned In connection with the 1926
senatorial campaign. Senator Ernst
faces no opposition for renominatio
But 1t VIII be Kentucky horse of an
other color with regard to his re-elec-
ton prospects. While Ernst is maxi
ing satisfactory. If not distinguish
ed' Blue Grass Senator. he has devel-
oped no particular following or gen
Grated any special popularity outside
OF the regular Republican organization
strength. In Louisville one hears that
ne can and probably will be beaten
next year. Senator Ernst is one of the
Republicans avalanched into the Sen
ate IN l92O by the Harding landslide
in doubtful States.
Many Kentuckians think his vic
tory was fiuke. and aver it cannot
be repeated. 1t is anomalous for
Democratic Kentucky" to be repre-
senled In the United States Senate.
as II is at present, by two Republi-
cans. Such situation has never eX-
listed before. Kentucky Democrats
VOW it shall never be again. Since
is2o hentucky's most astute Repub-
llcan leader. the late 'Tobe" Hert. has
vanished from the scene. He will be
sorely missed in 1926 Mrs. Hert is
now vice chairman Of the Republican
national committee Dick" Ernst is
the man they have correspondinCly
married for victim. The Democrat
upon whose shoulders the burden of
relegating Senator Ernst to private
lie VIII probably be placed is Rep
resentative Alben w Barkley of Pa
ducah. who has been in Congress for
the past 10 years and is Immensely
popular all over Kentucky.
Watson's Fight Looms Large.
Neither the Missouri nor the Ken
lucky situation begins to measure up
III interest or prospective excitement
with Jim" Watson's impending fight
for political life in Indiana Watson
Is putting in a hot Summer mending
his FENCES for two fights-one for re-
nomination and another for re-elec-
ton If nominated The RushvilIe
statesman is not going to be easily
overthrown. He has an uncommonly
strong and well oiled machine in
every county OF the State, and is a
maSnlfcent campaigner. There is a
separate watson women'S organiza-
uon working systematically alongside
every precinct and township regular
party organization.
The effervescent Jim" is as busy as
q cranberry merchant, handing
the proietariat in every nook and cram
ny of the Hoosier land. Whenever he
speaks at meeting the folks whoop
II up for him in enthusiastic fashion.
Foday there's not an Indiana post of
nee or Federal agency anywhere be
tween Lake Michigan and the Ohio
River that isn't filled with Watson
boosters. SO, altogether, the soil Is
we'll titled for "Jim'S" aspirations to
perpetuate himself.
But no one is more aware than he
himself that the road is thorn-strewn
The thorniest thorn is the possibility
that Albert Jeremiah Beveridge may
desert his Lincoln manuscript and
tempt fate again, as he triumpha ntly
did against Harry New in 1922 only
to be defeated on election day by Sena-
tor Ralston. If Beverdge decides to
enter the primaries against Watson 1t
would be a deadly duel. The odds
would be on Jim but no Indiana
politician would predict Watson's vic
tory as a certainty. Postmaster Gen
eral New and Senator Watson waste
no affection on each other, but New,
loving Beveridge less. would probably
prefer to see Jim" beat Beveridge. If
some one other than Beveridge OPP
poses Watson in the primaries the
Postmaster Generals moral sympathy
might be thrown against the Senator,
though if Watson carries the Coolidge
administration colors it would be en-
barras ssing for New to oppose him. 1t
is situation that bristles with COM
plications and doubts. and "Jim's"
nights are correspondingly sleepless.
Beveridge Opening Up.
The other day Beveridge turned up
at a meeting in indianapolis, where
both he and Watson Spoke-the pow
WOW called by George b. Lockwood.
former secretary of the Republican
national committee, to organize his
new Republican national construc
tive committee an engine or prOpa-
ganda to frustrate radicalism within
the party. A lot of Hoosiers thought
appearance was a sign
that he is again in a receptive
mood. senatorially speaking. To date
he has not formally disclosed his in
tentions.
Once upon a time Senator Watson
was the darling of the powerful Ku
Klux Klan gods in Indiana, but the
new grand dragon of the State, Wal
ter J. Bossert, dislikes him and has
the Senator's political downfall. The
Klan is not quite so omnipotent in In
diana as ii used to be. but it IS still
in position to reward friends and pun
ish enemies. If Watson is renominat-
ed. Bossert is expected to swing the
veto power of the kluxers relentlessly
a eainst the Senator's ambitions. If
he does it will be a serious If not a
fatal handicap. In addition to klan
Watson has the reputation
among Indiana Progressives of being
the favorite of special interests" in
the United States Senate.
ProgressiVeS will not roll up their
sleeves to promote his fortunes. He is
himself buoyantly confident that these
are in excellent shape, now and pro-
A Watson asset of no
mean importance is Indiana's recog-
milton that the Senator has become
one of the real factors in the Senate.
Hoosiers are conscious that if he
should be displaced the States pres
10 -f.safsa hi