Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-09
c. O.P. IN INDIANA
NOW IN 4 CAMPS
Hoover Organization Splits
With Watson.Dominat.
ed Group.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, September g.
Two moves, which may have monen'
tuous consequences on the campaign ir
Indiana took place this week, and as &
result the politically wise are doing 6
good deal of wild speculation.
The first action of import was the
decision Of the Hoover managers to sci
up separate headquarters, thus severing
themselves from the Watson dominated
State organization and the foundering
governorship campaign of Harry G
Leslie.
The other was the decision of a
group Of Republican farmers to form a
statewide organization known as the
Independent Equality for Agriculture
Club, which has for its announced
purpose the defeat of Hoover.
Several motives actuated the Hoover
managers in setting out to make a
separate campaign in the State. Prob
ably foremost in their minds was a
feeling that If they remained allied with
the regular organization and par
ticularly with Leslie, they might be
dragged down to defeat. Coupled with
that was a plain desire to profit from
Democratic votes, which they have
reason to believe they will obtain and
which they realized they could not
usher into the regular Republican or
ganization.
Now in Four Camps.
AS a result the Republicans of Indi-
ana might be said to be divided into
four camps, all with the same object in
view and all working in different ways
to achieve that end. First is the regu-
lar State organization, dominated by
Senator James E. Watson, and lead by
NJ Bert Thurman, national committee
man, and El2o o. Rogers, State chair
man. Next is the Hoover for-President
clubs, headed by Oscar N. Foellinger
Hoover's primary campaign manager.
Third is the Leslie organization, lead
by Henry w. Marshall, Lafayette pub
Usher; Alfred E. Hogston, State fire
marshal and former Khan titan; Walter
Bossert, former Klan dragon; Bert
Morgan, former prohibition enforcement
officer, and Bert Fuller former State
oil inspector Fourth is the more or
less independent organization, donin-
ated by George v. Coffin, Marion
County G. o. P. boss, which is seeking
to bring about reelection of Senator
4 Arthur R. Robinson.
The withdrawal OF the Hoover people
from the regular State organization
was done over the emphatic protests
of the Watson leaders, who foreSaw in
the separation decided poor tactical
naneuver. The Watson chiefs argued,
particularly after the Senator himself
had done such yonlan work Tor the
Secretary. that all the sores OF the
primary campaign could be healed. the
heated words of Kansas City would be
forgotten and all could dwell IN hapov
q. el.
iinger. acting. it is said, on direct orders
from DR.. Hubert Work, thought Hoover
could he better served If his campaiTn
rested in hands that had been fer him
from the start.
i Consult Committeevcman.
So the Hoover clubs have headouar-
tiers in Monument Circle, several blocks
from the Hotel SEVERN which houses
the regular Republican organization,
and associated with Foelllnger is DR..
Harry E. Barnard, Hoovers trusted per-
eonal friend of war days and one OF
his primary campaign managers. Listed
as an official of the new organization
Is Miss Dorothy Cunningham, national
committeeman, who, it has been no.
ticed, has been consulted at all times
by the Hoover national leaders in pref
erence to Thurman, who has been Sem
ator WatSon'S trusted lieutenant.
The organization of the Hoover clubs
as a distinct phase of campaign work
might have been done without attract
ing undue notice had it not been for
the bitter primary campaign waged by
the Watson leaders against Hoover and
were it not furthermore for the fact
that a good many profess to see the
shadow of James P. Goodrich, formerly
governor, creeping across the picture.
For years Watson and Goodrich have
been political foes and for good many
months reports have been out that
Goodrich was seeking to wrest the
State organization away from Watson
Therefore, some of the trusted Wat
:. son followers believe that Goodrich,
who attached himself to Hoover early
in the game, is lying in wait and under
the guiSe Of the Hoover clubs will step
forth IN due time to claim the organ
1zat1on. It is noted that the Hoover
people have put Goodrich as far in the
background as possible, just IS they
did in the primary, but there are ample
evidences that the crafty old politician
has finger in the pie. For example,
his secretary, Miss Janet Harris, is in
Republican Western headquarters and
there is no reason to believe that his
laiSon with Will H. Hays, movie car,
and George B. Lockwood, both high in
the Hoover councils, has been dimin-
ished.
Club TO Back Smith.
The organization of the Independent
Equality for Agriculture Club is pat
emily an effort to capitalize the farm
discomfort in favor of Gov. Smith,
Ostenslbly the movement was started
by L. F. ShuttelWorth of INDIANAPOLIS.
formerly head of the purchasing de-
partment OF the Indiana Federation of
farm Bureaus. Shuttelworth is a life
long Republican and once held a Re-
publican county elective Office in South
Dakota. George w. Trautman of sun
man was named chairman and Claude
Rankin Of Bloomington, secretary. Both
described themselves as Republicans
and it was said 80 Republican farmers
participated in the preliminary confer
ence.
1t Is the plan of the organizers to Sc,
up district, county and precinct organ.
1zations and to carry on an active cam.
palgn among Republican farmers
against Hoover. 1t was noted in the
frst statement issued that Hoover.
farm views were attacked, but nothins
was said IN behalf of Smith.
Although no connecting link can bt
detected between the club and the Off.
Gals OF the Farm Federation, who arr
openly for Smith, or the Democratic
State committee, the three have tn,
same object in view Inasmuch as III,
organization seemed to spring from tn,
ground, some observers have recalled
The statement Of John j. Raskob, Demo
cratic national chairman, that he ha,
apportioned 100000 to be spent anon,
= Inc farmers OF the corn belt States,
Generally speaking the farmers VIII,
are engaged in winning Republican
away IRON Hoover admit that thei
TASK mas been made harder by Smith
6o-called wet views They also ady,i
that they are confronted with a nroh
lem among the women, who are sal,
TO be opposed TO the governors view