The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-05-08
INDIANA 7 ODAY
GIVES HOOVER
BIC TEST
By GEORGE r. HOLMES


Herbert Hoover faces the biggest
test he has yet encountered in his
quest of the Republican Presidential
nomination in today's primary in
Indiana.
Republicans Of every shade Of
opinion in Washington are agreed
upon that. however, much they
may differ in their judgment OF
the effect Of defeat or victory for
the Cabinet candidate.
II Hoover can decisiVely defeat
the favOrite son candidacy Of Sen.
ator James e. Watson, backed as
it is by a State organization which
for efficiency is second probably to
none in the country, then the pros.
pect of stopping Hoover" at Kan
sas City admittedly becomes a for.
lOrn one.
Defeat Is Hope of "AlIies."
If. on the other hand, Watson
energies victorious by any appreci-
able margin, it means renewed hope
and courage for the allies" who
have pooled their resources and
made common cause Of their OPP
position to the leading candidate.
In any event, the trek of HoOsier
voters to the polls today is being
watched by Washington as has no
other primary struggle Of the cur.
rent season.
Hoover's victory in Ohio gave
''the allies" a distinct jar, but in
that case they explained 1t away
by pointing to the premature death
of Senator Frank 3. Willis. Ohio's
favorite son. just before the cleo.
ton. Willis death played havoc
with the orga IMITATION lineup in
Ohio.
Hoover beat dead man in
Ohio" they said. In Indiana 1t
will be different"
Determining Factor
Today will tell the story. The
result in Indiana will not be de-
cisive in itself, but it may very
we'll prove q highly determining fac"
tor in the struggle that lies ahead
at Kansas City. The moral effect
of a victory in Indiana means much
more to Hoover, and to 1.-The allies"
for that matter, than merely the
33 convention votes involved.
Senator Watson has advised his
friends in Washington that he will
win. He has campaigned the State
with his customary Vigor, and his
personal organization, variously
estimated at around 100000 votes,
is said to be largely intact. He ex-
poets to lose some of the larger
cities in the Stale, but he also ex-
poets to make up. for that in the
rural districts.
Indiana is more rural than Ohio,
and sentiment for the McNary-
Haugen bill is believed to be more
solid than was the case across the
line to the east. Watson was
leader in the fight to enact the
bill, while Hoover, rightly or
wrongly. has been accused of having
influenced Coolidge to veto.
Scandals Influence
The biggest question mark in
today's voting, as calculated by the
practical politicians Off Washing
scandals in Indiana has had on the
popular mind. More than a dozen
Republican politicians and office
holders in Indiana have either been
indicted or sent to jail in the last
few years, and while Watson has
never personally been touched by
these scandals the central figures
in them have been organization
men.
II the voters hold Watson TespOn-
Sible as head of the organization, it
may mean q Hoover victory. If not,
then the hard.bOiIed politicians OF
the Capital do not believe Hoover can
defeat one Of the most n0AVerfUi
State machines i'm the cOuntrA
Hoover enters the voting in In