Evening star., 1928-05-03

"dry of record" means that Watson
has had an opportunity to vote on dry
legislation and has supported it. But
1t has no fight against Hoover. He
Is said to be acceptable to the league.
DR.. E. S. Shumaker, superintendent
of the Arti-Saloon League OF Indiana,
has run afoul of Senator Watson. He
was sued for contempt of court couple
of years ago because he referred to the
members of the State Supreme Court as
wet" According to Mr. Shumaker, he
appealed to Senators Robinson and
Watson in 1926 to have the case against
him settled quickly. although the Re
publican organization at the time
wished to shunt the decision of until
after the election, in which Senator
Watson was a candidate. This came
to light last year, but 1t was charged
fighting the Anti-Saloon League as a
SUPERB government" in the State, that
Shumaker undertook to have the Ser1a-
tors influence the court to hold him
innocent.
Drys May Turn.
Senator Watson, in a deposition.
rather indicated that Shumaker had
asked that influence be used to prevent
a jail sentence against him. And now
the word is going round that some of
the dry friends of Mr.. Shumaker are
inclined to vote against Senator Wat
son on that account. Mr.. Shumaker is
keeping aloof in the matter.
Attorney General Gilliom, who is
fighting the Anti-Saloon League with
one hand and the Ku Klux Klan with
the other. is candidate for the Re-
publican senatorial nomination against
Senator Robinson and Solon j. Carter.
A day or two ago he had Shumaker
arrested on charge of violating the cor
rupt practices act, because Shumaker
in his Anti-SalOon League listing of
candidates declared Gilliom wet of
record" Gilliom insists he is dry. and
there is a clause in the law that makes
Misrepresentation of candidates a viola
ton of the law. Shumaker has been
released on 81 900 bond.
The Klan is the subject of suit too,
brought by Gilliom to oust the order
from Indiana, on the ground that 1t
was involved in corrupt practices and
its officials sought to gain through
Government contracts. If the Klan is
active in the present campaign, it is
keeping it under cover. It is in bad
order in the State and its membership
has fallen off tremendously. The talk
is that the Klan would support Watson
in the presidential race, If any one. But
open support by the Kian would scarce
ly aid the Senator at this juncture.
Recently the Hoover campaign in In
diana has been enlivened by the intro
duction of number of speakers. Gov
Green of Michigan, former Gov. Hard
ing of Iowa, Robert Taft, son of the
Chief Justice and a Hoover leader in
Ohio, and Miss Mabel Willebrandt. As
sistant Attorney General in charge OF
prohibition cases, are among the Hoover
speakers.
Yesterday the Times published a let.
ter written by Postmaster General New
to Booth Harrington. Indiana author
defending Mr.. Hoover's Republicanism
and Americanism and declaring for hi.
nomination. The same newspaper i
publishing a series of articles by vii
Irwin attacking Watson and favorinl
Hoover.
Here in Indiana the primary Law
provides that candidate winning tht
presidential preference has the entir,
State delegation to the national cen.
ventions bound to him until he release,
IT,. It is in effect unit rule. Thi:
means that If Senator Watson wins by
single vote in the Statewide confess
with Mr.. Hoover, he has the whole
delegation, 80 strong. at Kansas CITY
until he releases it. If Mr. Hoover
should win. he would have the sams
power over the delegation. This make.
the contest all the more important.