Evening star., 1928-05-17
Hoover's Showing in Indiana
Interpreted For and Against

Defeat OK Secretary Herbert Hoover
by Senator James e Watson in the
presidential primary in Indiana is inter
preted in various ways. Some observers
are enthusiastic in praise of his show
ing against the "faVorite son" OF the
regular Republican organization in that
State but others believe that his cam
paign has received a setback because OF
the efforts that were made III his behalf
without achieving q victory. debate
as 10 whether the result was due to
agricultural opposition has developed.
The size OF the Hoover vote aud the
cloSeness VI the totals leave the Secre-
tary nothing 10 be ashamed of. SAYS the
New York Evening Post independently,
while the Roanoke World-News tinds-
pendent Democratic) remarks thas his
supporters find great encouragement IN
the large vote poiled by the Secretary"
The Cincinnati Times-Star tRepuo-
licanl feels that he made such a good
run IN the face of vigorous opposition
from the entire Republican organization
in the State that the general effect upon
his candidacy will probably be favorable
rather than the opposite, and the
Nashville Banner independently argues;
Indiana is in the we'll known corn belt,
where opposition 10 Hoover is supposed
10 be very intense, A near-victory,
therefore for him over faVorlte son
is y virtual repudiation OF Watson"
Hoover faced such tremendous odds.
he gave battle under conditions 50
nearly hopeless in what was called the
enemy's country that the amazing re-
suit Is almost equivalent TO a defeat for
the machine" according TO the Los
Angeles Express tRepublicanl. The
Elkhart Truth independently holds that
the moral victory viii have crafty
ing effect for him. not only here but
all over the country"
The Topeka Daily Capital tRepUhli-
cam declares With little organiEa-
tion in comparison with that OF the
home candidate. Hoover rolled up
formidable vote, The question whether
he Is a vote-getting candidate is fairly
answered.
Win or lose" states the Louisville
Courier-Journal independently. Her
bert Hoover already has become the
author Of public benetactsoa. He had
the moral courage To challenge the
'tavorite son buneombe and carried
Ohio. Only the solidarity of the local
subsidiaries Of the Indiana Republican
machine ayerted his triumph.
Four years hence. thanks 10 hooyerS
initiative, national candidates may not
hesitate 10 enter any State where a
straw candidate is Tapping IN the wind,
''HooverS triumphant demonstration
of strength In Indiana" as viewed by
the San Francisco Chronicle tindepend-
enu, "amaxeS even his most enthuSi-
aStio supporters. BY every
rule of Indiana politics the election
should have been "A Steam~roller holiday
With Hoover under the wheels, =
California was not marke! 10 the proof
Of the tremendous wave ot popular de-
mand shown by the Indiana vote"
In contradiction of these conclusions,
the ST, Paul Pioneer Press tndepend~
enn asserts In the hast analysts,
the availability of Republican eandl-
date this year, given the almost eer~
talnty of smiths nomination by the
Democrats, Will be governed by his aetl~
ity 10 keep the normally Republican
States et the West In line. That Secre-
tary Hoover possesses this essential If
availability Is hardly possible tu con-
cede in face Of these direct eNpreSSionS
from the farmers at the outward eage
OF the corn belt
Efforts 10 reconcile the decisive de-
feat OF Hoover and the fantastic aS~
sumption that he MAS in some NAY coas
nected With y political hetlSeeleanAag III
the state" AYERS the indianapolis News
Independently, have exposed the basic
weakness at the whole campaign taI
glorttS individuals ana causes az the
expense ef the States national relNsta-
tlan, The people we're indlf
teFent Ia The advice at superficial out-
side observers and the hatiyaoo ot hens
personalities seeking sensational tSsue
There are Indications that che houses
cleaning il not complete Hut also there
Is ample reason IL believe that when
mole at Il IL necessary the law enfogee-
ment officials and cuugts Will do the
work
Senator WatNNn's control Of the iu~
diana delegation for the duration at tlgs
convention contest. that may be lana
drawn eat and nlelliiV aE Strategpgas |
and gliekers. Ii nel tAinS that can b.