The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-03-22
BY RAY TUCKER

ID MAJ OAnEh
The prediction that Herbert
Hoover would carry a. least six dis
trictS against Senator Watson in
the latterS Well-controlled State OF
Indiana was made here today by
Oscar Foellinger, Hoover's State
manager.
Needless to say. such a dent in
Watsons Hoosier stronghold would
be regarded by national politicians
as a victory for the Cabinet men,
her. But that isn't all, according
to Foellinger
Shows Watson Revolt
His prediction is the first he has
made since his summary of State
sentiment and signs of a growing
revolt against corruption of Wat
sons political organization induced
the Secretary of Commerce to in
wade the State after some of its
thirty-three delegates to the ma
tiOnal convention. Foellinger' S
estimate, furthermore is based on
careful reports now flowing into his
headquarters at the Claypool Hotel.
They make him optimistic for
carrying the State, but naturally
conservative, he declines to put
forth eXtravagant claims at this
time. contending himself with a
prediction of six congressional dis
tricts having twelve delegates.
Districts listed for Hoover lie for
the most part in territory
north of Indianapolis, where Wat
sons strength has lain in the fact
that dyed-in- the-wool Republican
inhabitants have always preferred
any high tariff Republican to the
best man the Democrats can
muster.
Given Worthy Candidate
Now that they have chance to
choose between Two Republicans like
Watson and Hoover. Foellinger says
they will repudiate the Senator once
and for all
The Hoover managers summary OF
conditions also exploded the general
belief outside Indiana that, in bat
Ting such a veteran political leader
as Watson on his home grounds
Hoover was taking too long a chance
This opinion has been based on the
understanding that Hoover had tC
win the presidential preference vote
to gain the whole delegation, and
that otherwise he got nothing from
his newest political adventure.
In casting up this situation, even
political dopeSters favorable to
Hoover have concluded their long
range forecasting with mournful
shakes of their heads. Fearing Wat
sons power in a State organization
he had led for a decade, they could
not figure where Hoover would bene-
fit unless he swept the State.
Peculiar Law Favcrs Hoover
But that is not quite the situa-
ton. These fears have been based
on misur Outstanding of Indiana S
complicated primary law. which re-
quireS delegates to remain with the
State wide winner only 80 long as
his name remains before the conven-
| ton"
Moreover, the delegates to be
elected on May are representatives
to a State rather than the national
convention. Meeting separately
delegates from each congressional
district select their delegates to the
national convention at the time OF
the State convention Thus districts
carried by Hoover on May will
choose men whose real presidential
choice will be Hoover.
They will be bound to stick tC
Watson while he figures in the run
ming at Kansas City. but no longer
Any attempt to use them in trade
with LoWden or Dawes, or to swing
them to another candidate, viii
probably fail. AS long as WatSon's
name is heard in the convention
hall, they vote for him as unit
But as soon as he quits-and manS
expect it will be fairly soon in the
balloting-they can break to theil
second choices as reflected in the
result of the May vote in their re-
3pective districts.