The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-07-21
bOSSERT OUT
and THURMAN
PATH CLEARED
Former Khan Dragon Will
Not Seek Nomination for
Governor.
WILL SUCCEED HEATING
Senator Watson Paving
Road to Statehouse for
Close Friend.

Walter F. Dessert, former Khan
grand dragon, will not seek the
gubernatorial nomination on the
Republican ticket in 1928.
Instead, he has been promised
that he will be made National re-
publican committeeman to succeed
Joseph B. Healing.
These statements coming from
sources of authority indicate the
first definite action Of Senator
James E. Watson to nominate for
Governor his friend M. Burt Thur
man, now collector of internal
revenue.
BosSert has had his eye on the
Governorship ever since Governor
Jackson appointed Arthur Robinson
to succeed the late Samuel M.
Ralston IN the Senate.
Jackson did not send for Bossert
on that occasion as he did for
Frank Ball Of Muncie, only to tell
the latter when he returned with
his acceptance that Robbie" had
been appointed.
Bossert Had Hopes
But, he had told Bossert in the
days of the 1924 primary and cam
paign, that after / am elected there
is nothing I could refuse you"--and
Bossert wanted to live in Washing
ton, according to Bossert's friends.
AS former grand dragon of the
Khan, Bossert, who succeeded d.
G. Stephenson in that Office, has a
following in the State. For a long
time it has been believed that with
Bossert and Frederick E. Schorte-
meier, secretary of State, in the
race what remains Of the Khan vote
would be split.
Under the arrangement reached
this week while Indianas senior
Senator has been visiting with the
postmasters from over the State.
Bosert's strength will go to Thur
man. That would include such or
CARNATIONS as the Marion County
Red Star League, unless 1t should
repudiate its political committee.
Not Loved. But Useful
Bossert, whose home is down in
Liberty-SiXth district has been
known as a part of the New-Good-
rich-Hays crowd. They haven't par
ticularly loved him, but he has been
very useful, although he has not
been a direct beneficiary in any
visible way. Though this combina-
ton Bossert has been very friendly
with Everett Sanders, secretary to
the President.
During the investigation into In
diana Khan affairs by the Reed
Senatorial committee last fall, Bos-
sert suffered a sudden lapse OF
memory as to why he had been
supplanted as head Of the Khan in
Indiana by w. Lee Smith, incum-
bent.
Senator James A. Reed sought for
hours without success to induce the
former dragon to admit on the
stand what he had allegedly stated
RAANoVSAJ W OIllcIo, was IOrCcQ
out because I refused to 60 down
the line for Watson"
The reason Of Bossert's silence
before Senator Reed led to the new
set-up with Watson.
M. Bert Thurman, when the story
OF the Dessert arrangement was
made public, said:
Il know nothing about Mr.. Bos-
sert's political ambitions. am not
playing for Khan support. I am
making no deals with any one. II
| am nominated. I want It to be
by the votes Of Republicans gen.
orally and not by any side bloc or
combinations"
Thurman said he did not know
whether Bossert would be a can
didate for Governor or not He said
he had not seen .Bossert for some
time. He did not believe anyone
could promise the national COM
mittee post to Bossert, because the
committeeman is elected by Repub-
llcan State committeeman. He in
dicated he did not believe Bossert
would swing his support to him