The Indianapolis times., 1928-05-17
PARTY PADDLE
| ST|NGS COFFIN
; and ROBINSON
KIan Combination Is Routed
and Watson Still Rules
State G. O. P.
ROGERS NEW CHAIRMAN
Attempted Coup Fails at
Farley; Thurman FoiIS
COMPROMISE Move.

George V. COt1n, seventh dlStrlcU
Republican chairman, and his ally,
Senator Arthur r. Robinson, smart
ed today under the spanking dealt
them when they tried to capture
costrol of the Republican State
Central committee Wednesday and
pave the way, in the Republican
State convention, for q. landslide to
Frederick E. Schortenleier, secretary
of state, and gubernatorial candi-
sdate.
, For the first time in many po-
{Iitical moon, Gap" Coffin knocked
at the door of a Republican "cau-
Gus" and was refused admittance.
And Senator Robinson, encour-
aged by his primary success, found
himself in the humiliating position
of having made an unsuccessful bid
for the s}epter long held by his
veteran colleague, Senator Watson.
Ponder in Private Room.
In a twelfth-f1oor private ro6m,"
across the hall from the committee
room, the ten district chairmen ar
rayed against the Coffin Robinson
Klan alliance pondered the chair
manship for an hour and a half.
This was after it had been an
sounced that Watson had agreed, in
a long distance telephone call from
Washington, to a compromise upon
Henry w. Marshall, Lafayette news
paper publisher.
Believing Coff1n's plan to have the
support of but three votes-those of
Coffin, John Killigrew, of Grown
Point, Tenth district chairman, and
Frank Gordon, of Button, Eighth
district chairman, Watson's support
ers, under advice of his campaign
manager, M. Bert Thurman, could
see no reason for compromise when
they were certain of their ability to
elect their choice, Eliza Rogers, of
Lebanon, newly elected Ninth dis
trict chairman
Coffin sent word to the door that
he would like to be admitted.
Coffin Is Barred
Back through the crack came the
word from Paul Meredith, Watson
handy man, Like hell! This is
Watson meeting"
So Coffin, Killigrew and Gordon
stood in the corridor, packed the
length of the floor with politicians,
men and women.
Occasionally Thurman and others
slipped out to whispered conferences
and telephones. Robinson, Coffin
and Thurman went into huddle,
but still no decision from the closed
door session.
Finally the ten filed out and into
the formal meeting, the Coffin trio
also trailing in.
A few moments later E. Faye Kilt
selman, retiring chairman, stepped
to the door and announced the "un-
animous" election of Rogers. Robin
son was called in for a speech, as
was the new chairman, whose proxy
had voted for him.
Vote Is 9 to 4.
The vote had been nine to four
in favor of Rogers. Marshall had
been the only other nominee. Then
it was made unanimous, in the in
terest of party harmony"
The four who had voted against
Rogers election were Coffin, Cor
don, Killigrew and James Showalter
of Wabash, Eleventh district chair
man.
In the Coffin ranks appeared
lieutenants of D. G. Stephenson,
who have been closely allied with
Robinson's campaign for renomina-
tion and reelection.
Miss Mary Sleeth of Rushville
was reelected State vice-chairman;
Harry G. Fenton, secretary, and Irv-
ING Lemaux of Indianapolis was
chosen treasurer to succeed j. T.
Moorman.
Kitselman Refuses Job.
Kitselman was proffered the
craftsmanship, but stuck by his per-
sistent refusals.
Politicians today we're studying
.the possible effect of Coff1n's insur-
gent move. His setback is expected
to show results in the behavior of
the 219 state convention delegates
from the Seventh district.
Afte> the meeting, Watson and
Robinson forces joined in declara-
tions that there had been no trace
of a breach between the two sena-
tors.
Thurman left for Washington to
confer with Watson, Immediately
following the session.
oTATr ruIIpCH cEccIOM