Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-07
INDIANA FARM BUREAU ROW
HELD AID TO SMITH IN STATE
Effort to Curb w. H. Settle,
Fighting Hoover, Has
Opposite Effect.
indictment of Former Khan
Officials Also Held Benefit
to Governor.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, October g.
Two factors served to help the cause of
Gov. Alfred E. Smith in Indiana this
week, and while the Democrats had
nothing TO do with either incident. they
were hailed by the governors advocates
as extremely beneficial
Probably the most significant devel-
opment came when some Republican
/ leaders. aroused over the campaign w.
H. Settle, president Of the Indiana
Farm Bureau Federation. is making
against Herbert C. Hoover. sought to
Gust Settle. from the federation. Their
first move was to obtain the res.gna-
ticn Of Everett Mcclure of Aurora trom
the federation board of directors, &C.
compGnied by a declaration that he
would campaign for Hoover.
Farmers Back Settle.
Then the board of directors was
called into session and the word went
cut that Settle either would be asked
to resign or to curb his political activ-
ity. AS the board went into session
more than 500 farmers, gathering VOL
Sntarily from all parts of the State,
met in indianapolis, drafted resolu-
tons upholding Settle and his policies
and severely criticizing the Republicans
for attempting to interfere in internal
federation affairs. and then presented
them to the board of directors. The
directors also upheld Settle, so that as
a result of the move the Farm Bureau
leader now has free rein to proceed
with his campaign in the full knowl-
edge that he has the united support of
his directors and representative men,
bers as well.
The demonstration, instead of help
ing Hoover, served to cell attention to
the campaign the Farm Bureau is put
ting up against him, and also placed
the Republican leaders who attempted
the coup in a rather embarrassing po-
sition. Publication of the resolution
also brought to public notice egai1 In
effective fashion the farmers plant
against Hoovers agricultural views.
Arrests Indirect Aid.
Another develormont that tended to
help Smith was the Indictment by the
Federal grand pury of two former Of
f1cials of the Ku Klux Khan on a charge
of violating the Dyer act prohibiting
the transportation of stolen automo-
biles. One of the men was w. Lee
Smith. recently resigned grand dragon,
and the other was Robert r. fcNay,
formerly titan. These indictments
came just at time when the Khan was
attempting to recruit its strength
against Gov. Smith and served to call
attention not only to the Khan, but to
the long string of indictments that
have grown out of Khan domination in
Indiana politics.
Despite these matters, however Re-
publican leaders professed to see Hoo
ver's cause steadily gaining ground in
the State. They admit there are many
weak places. notably in Lake County.
which usually can be counted on to roll
IN O Republican ma ioritv of about 20
900. but on the whole they seemed to
think NEST of the trouble would be
ironed out. The Democrats. however,
are evincing more than the usual
think there is good chance for Smith
to capture the States electoral votes.
Curtis Wei Received.
The Republicans gained some COM
fort from the reception accorded SEN
ator Charles Curtis, the vice presidsn-
tial ncminee, in Lake County. He
spoke there on Friday at the earnest
request of the Republican leaders who
feared that the county, with its heavy
foreign population, was slipping into
the Smith column. Even the most
hopeful Hoover leaders, however, do not
predict more than 5000 Republican
majority in that county.
Republican canpaigners are looking
forward with some misgivings to the
visit of Mabel Walker Willebrandt, AS
sistant United States Attorney General,
to the Indiana w. c. T. U. ccnven-
ton at Kokonao on October H. Their
fears have been somewhat aggravated
by the fact that Mrs. Willebrandt has
been assigned to the nesting by the
Republican national speakers bureau.
Countering some of these favorable
Smith moves. however, are the activ-
tiles of the dry forces, led In the main
by the Anti-Saloon League and the w.
c. T. U. Scarcely a day elspses that