Evening star., 1928-04-26
HOOVER STRENGTH
GAINS IN INDIANA
Victories in Bay State and
Ohio May Aid Secretary in
May 8 Primary.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Having leaped the Ohio hurdle sue
paign moves on to Indiana.
Until the decisive victory OF Mr.
Hoover In Ohio Tuesday. the Watson
favorite son organization had pretty
much taken 1t for granted that Sena-
tor Jim" Watson would have little
difficulty winning the presidential pref
erential vote in the Hoosier State. and
takings thereby a delegation to Kansas
City pledged to vote for Watson as long
as he desired to hold It. But the OUT
come IN Ohio, backed up py the Massa-
chusettS vote. has given the situation
| different aspect From today until
May 8. the primary date. the cam
paign will be waged vigorously.
Mr.. Hoover has demonstrated his
strength In Michigan. bordering In
diana on the north, where he has a
solid delegation. He has. too, the Ken
tucky delegation. and Kentucky borders
Indiana on the south. Ohio lies i'm
mediately TO the east Illinois, how
ever. on the west, Is for Frank 0.
Lowden for President. Hoover'S leading
opponent at present But in Illinois,
the organization was severely defeated
in the recent primaries. which has lent
some color TO the report that the or
ganization in Indiana, dominated by
Watson, might meet with reverses in
view OF the political scandals which
have torn the state In recent months
Backed by Organization.
Senator Watson has the Republican
organization with him. It Is reported
to be functioning In good shape. MIR.
Hoover. on the other hand. Is faced
with the opposition OF the organiZa-
ton. and his workers are comparatively
few II would seem on the face OF
things that only an uprising within the
party could defeat Watson and give
Hoover a victory In Indiana. The
Hoover chances however, are increased
by the fact that there has been a
demand among many Republican voters
IN Indiana that the party clean
house" To continue the Watson or
ganizati ton in power at the coming pri-
marieS would scarcely be regarded as
cleaning house,
In addition To the advantage OF hay-
ing the organization with him. Senator
Watson has the support OF leading
newspapers in indianapolis and else
where In the State Furthermore. ii
has been widely heralded that vic
tory for Watson IS In reality a victory
for Vice President Dawes. who has. II
Is said. much support in Indiana. Mr.,
Watson. II has been predicted. would
throw the Indiana delegation 10 Dawes
If 1t became apparent he could not
himself be elected This is both an
asset To the Watson ticket and weak
ness For the Watson candidacy, II II
Is popularity believed ne is merely
stalking horse for Dawes, loses its
'favorite son" appeal, Senator Watson
has issued statement after statement
denying he Is a stalking horse for any
man and that he was candidate
for the presidential nomination in his
own right, lie is reiterating this on the
stump today.
Some OF the farm organizations in
Indiana are throwing their support To
Watson and against Hoover because Of
the McNary- -Haugen bill issue, Wat
son voted for the bill In the Senate
and Vice President Dawes Is friendly
to the measure
Large Vote ForeSeen.
The Indiana primaries differ not a
little from the Ohio In that In the first
State candidates for Governor. Senator
and members of the House are TO be
nominated There Is widespread IN
tereSt In these contests The vote IN
the primary. therefore, may be very
much larger proportionately than the
primary vote In Ohio A large vote Is |
generally considered more favorable to |
the candidate opposed ey the organiza~ |
ton, ON the theory that the organisa- |
ton IN tight vote is pretty sure To 1
control
The HnnVer managers in indiana are |
already claiming that the Ohio result /
ifAnnfinnad an pAon . Gnh,n,n kN