The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-24
WATSON BOOM
LAUNCHED AS
G. 0. P. CHEERS
300 Crowd Columbia Club
to Hear Praise Chorus
for Senator.
VESTAL MAIN SPEAKER
Candidates. Record Given
in Full, Achievements
Are Lauded.
VESTAL MAIN SPEAKER

Senator James E. Watson's pres
3oential candidacy was under new
momentum today, 900 Republicans
from throughout the State having
Jammed into the Watson for -Presi-
dent banquet at the Columbia Club,
Thursday night to make the launch
ing ceremony a spirited event.
Formal announcement of WatSon's
candidacy was made, amidst cheers,
by Albert H. Vestal of Anderson,
representative in Congress from the
Eighth district, who extolled the
senior Senator's record of public
service and described his fitness for
the highest Office in the land.
John K. Ruckelshaus, local attor-
ney, who presided, was first 20
couple Watson's name with the pres
1dency, and from that moment on,
the packed ballroom took on the
aspect of mid-campaign political
gathering.
Leaders Speak Briefly
E. Faye Kitselman, Muncie, State
Republican chairman: M. Bert
Thurman, Watson'S national cam
paign manager; J. Stewart Hopkins.
Evansville, State campaign man
ager; Mayor Raleigh Hale, East
Chicago: Miss Mary Sleeth, Rush
vile, wee chairman of the State
Comnittee; Ralph Kane, local at
torney, and George Barnard, New
castle, were introduced; some of
them making brief speeches.
Vestals speech was broadcast
over Station WFBN1. Senator Wat
son, at Washington, planned to tune
in on the oratory and probably
heard the tumultuous ovation ac-
corded him.
The speaker related how Gen.
Benjamin Harrison's presidential
campaign was launched similarly
forty years ago by the Columbia
Clubs predecessor-the Benjamin
Harrison Marching Club.
Cites Watson's Record
''We present Senator Watson to
tie Republicans and to the Nation
with feeling Of just pride" he said.
the doctrine of Republicanism un-
adulterated and undefiled. His rec
ord of more than thirty years in
the Congress of the United States
is Identical with the achievements
of the Republican party.
"The nomination and election of
Senator Watson will bring to the
White House a man Of broad expert
ence in public affairs, with a high
conception of the public needs, a
keen respect for the traditions of
his party, and a sympathy, from
long association, with the efforts
of those leaders in Congress who
are seeking to do constructive work"
Declaring this country of ours
now stands at the threshold of a
great constructive era" Vestal said:
"The great principle of the protec-
tive tariff, which is inseparable from
national prosperity for both labor
and capital, will need its defenders
in the near future more than ever
Industry cannot go forward without
labor, and American labor will Ian
guish when American industry
halts."
For Dry Enforcement
Vestal stressed the Importance Of
Senator Watson's work as head of
the Senate Committee on Interstate
Commerce and as member of the
Committee on Finance.
Although prohibition laws we're
not mentioned by name, the Watson
attitude on their enforcement was
expressed when Vestal declared:
Senator Watson stands unequiv-
ocally for enforcement of all law
The Constitution of the United
States is the supreme law of the
land. and its mandates should be
upheld against all persons who seek
to nullify its provisions"
Vestal then traced Senator Wat
sons accomplishments with respect
to outstanding legislation of the last
thirty years. To Watson's skill and
logic" he attributed enactment of
the Watson Parker railroad bill,
characterized as zone Of the most
constructive and progressive meas
ures ever promulgated in the cause
Of industrial peace"
Hits at League of Nations
Cheering followed Vestal'S re-
Cital of Watson's opposition to the
. Covenant of the League of Nations
Watson was lauded for his efforts in
behalf of equal suffrage and his
sponsoring the McNary Haugen bill
for agricultural relief.
Vestal made a vigorous plea for
party loyalty and adherence to Re
publican party principles.
with such a record Of attainment
in the last eight years, how can the
Democratic party hope to gain con-
troll of the government in the COM
ing election? What with the Demo
cratic rooster having a Heflin wing
on one side, an Al Smith wing or
the other, a wet bill, and McAdoc
tall"