The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-12-22
Just Another Problem

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The political worries Of Senator James Eli
Watson grow so fast that even those who have
not been exactly his admirers might pity some
Of his perplexities
Having had control Of the party machinery
iii this State for a number of years, he is faced
by demand from very earnest souls that he
reorganize it and clean it up and show the vot-
ers that the old party has no responsibility for
the officials who happen to get crosswise with
the law and who tremble whenever they see
anything that even resembles "black box"
The appeal to Senator Watson to lead the
party out of the muck and mire into the less
asthmatic atmosphere of politics has its ironies.
1t is not so simple as merely finding some
millionaire with ambitions and blameless past
and inducing the various gentlemen who have
been promised the nomination for Governor in
the past as a reward for political service to step
aside in his behalf.
If that were the whole problem when the
Senator comes home at Christmas, he might
even welcome the job.
For he has been rather successful in the past
in persuading those who felt they had claims
on jobs to forego them. And it is quite likely
that he would accept the millionaire poten-
TALLY for the governorship as his own discov7
cry and give the signal for the boys in the
trenches to start their hymns of praise and
penitence.
But there is the more difficult matter of
successor to that able lieutenant of Senator
Watson who for the period Of disrepute has
held the Republican State craftsmanship.
Shall his successor be faithful follower Of
Watson or will that former Governor who now
reaches into national fields for influence kidnap
the organization?
What will the women of the State sayg
That is important, for they have said things
with votes in the past.
And just as the mind of the Senator is in
tent on this job of political sewage disposal the
Marion County grand jury suggests that it
would like to see and talk to the Senator be-
fore it's term of office expires on Dec. 80.
Only master mind, such as that of the
senior Senator, could be expected to grapple
with so many problems in single week.
The next Governor the next State chair
man for his party and grand jury all in
Christmas week And that season brings good
cheer and happiness and relaxation to all the
rest Of the world.
Of course, there is that other little problem
that will still persist after he has settled these
others.
There is a growing whisper in the high
places that before Watson really. restores the
party of his faith to public confidence, he will
have to decide whether he can afford to carry
along his colleague into the next campaign.
There are those, and they are mighty, who
believe that no millionaire respectable should
be handicapped with a running mate who
brings memories of "black boxes" or attor-
neyships for the grand dragon or with the ex-
PLANTATION of ''fake" pearl necklaces for Christ
mas presents. !
Will the senior Senator, when he comes
and if he comes, decide that no further public
sacrifice will be demanded Of his present coll
league?
After he has got through pacifying the
boys who hold his political notes on the gov
ernorship, after he has picked spotless can
didate as the party Moses, after he has chased
away the COLLINS in the shape of Goodrich, just
what is he going to do about Arthurs
This is truly terrible world with its wor-
ries and the senatorial pillow is never SOFT