Evening star., 1928-05-20
WATSON MEN WIN
INDIANA SK|RM|SH
Robinson Defeated in Fight
Over Control of State
Organization.
sreclal niSnat,h 10 The star,

Special nisnst,h TO The Star.
INDIANAPOLIS. May lo.--ElementS
lined up behind Senator James =. Wat
son, Indiana'S offering for the Repub-
lican presidential nomination. and Sen-
ator Arthur R. Robinson crossed swords
this week over control of the State or
sanitation and the Watson forces came
OF victorious. The fight broke out of
q clear sky lust as the Republican lead
ess were congratulating themselves that
they emerged from the primary with out
serious riffs.
Senator Robinson, who had been re-
nominated by a tremendous ma ajority in
the primary over two opponents, per-
Sonally precipitated the clash when he
hurried home from Washington with
the avowe6 purpose of making his cam
paign manager, George n. Poland Of
Crown Point, the new chairman Of the
Republican State committee. The Wat
son forces under the leadership of NJ.
Bert Thurman. the Senator's campaign
manager, we're caught unprepareo but
by the time the junior Senator arrived,
they had lined up 3 Of the Is COM
nlitteemen for Elsa Rogers of Lebanon.
the Watson choice for chairman.
Offers Compromise.
Senator Robinson Ssnsed the situation
a
compromise and Henry w Marshall
Lafayette publisher, was put forward
Senator Watson. over the long-distance
telephone, agreed in order 10 promote
harmony, but his committeeman refused
to compromise and elected Rogers The
choice was made after Senator Robinson
made plea that the election of Rogers
would be personal affront to him
The Watson forces were particularly
tncensed at Robinson because they as
serted he had attempted TO wreSt con-
troll of the organization from the Sem
stor Just when he is getting his preSi-
dental campaign under way. The vote
in the committee not only was con-
StTue0 as a rebuke to RobinSonS pre-
tensions. but TO his friend George Y.
Coffin. Marion County political boss.
who recently won a place on the State
committee. Coffin was indicted along
with Gov. Ed Jackson on a charge of
having c0nSpired TO offer a bribe to
former Gov. McCray.
The Republicans now are Squaring
away for the State convention Wednes-
day and Thursday. The convention will
select a nominee for governor from
among 10 or more candidates, COM
plete State ticket and seven delegates
at large to the national convention. 1t
a.
ton will control the convention and viii
name its states of delegates not only
In the convention but in the district
meetings as we'll
big Seven Fight Looms.
A fight for places on the big seven
looU-s. However. as friends of Harry s.
New. Postmaster General. have vowed
that If he is not on the slate they viii
place his name in nomination from the
f1oor of the convention. The Watson
managers are adzmant against New
because Of his Endorsement OF Herbert
Hoover's candidacy the last week of the
primary campaign Gov Jackson. too.
is insisting on place on the delega-
ton but has been told by leaders that
his presence there would ernbarrass the
Watson candidacy.
The struggle for organization con-
troll indicated that the Watson orgar1i-
zation may attempt to line up FOR
Charles w Jewett, formerly mayor o.
indianapolis. as candidate for gover-
nor. while the Robinson forces gener-
ally are recognized as favorable TO the
nomination Of Frederick e. Scaorte-
meier secretary of state. Schortemeier
lead the primary field, while Jewett
landed in fifth place.
Roosevelt in Indiana.
Interest was aroused in Democratic
circles this week by the arrival in In
Gianapolis Of Franklin D. Roosevelt Of
New York. recognized as one of the
boosters Of Gov Smiths candidacy. Al
though insisting that he came here on
Q business trip. his visit provoked spec
ulation as to whether he might not
be looking over Evans wooilen. Indian
spolis banker and a candidate for the
Democratic presidential nomination, ss
prospective vice presidential timber.
Roosevelt was welcomed by Woolien al
q reception given by the Indiana Demo-
cratic Club.
For some inle the talk has been
going the rounds that IL Smith lands
the nomination. an effort will be made
10 make Woollen his running mate. Re-
ports have filtered through from New
York that the Smith people are anxious
70 have q Middle Westerner on the tick
ct and that they are locking kindly
on Wooilen.
HAROLD C. PEIcHTNER.