Evening star., 1928-05-03
Neither Watson Nor Hoover
Forces Feel Sure of VIC
tory Tuesday.
SECRETARY'S SUPPORT
IN OHIO SHOWS EFFECT
Line Up Still Seems to Favor Sem
ator-G. 0. P. Scandal and Dry
Policies Made Issues.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Sy Stan Correspondent OF The Star
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, May S.-A fog
OF uncertainty holds Indiana Republi-
can leaders in its grip. This applies
10 both the Watson and Hoover camps.
Both are claiming victory in the presi-
dental preferential primary May 8. but
neither is sure, down deep They would
bless any man who could make them so.
Two or three weeks ago everything
pointed to watson's victory. But things
have happened There was the Ohio
victory for Secretary Hoover It has
had its effect here, showing that Mr..
Hoover is q vote getter. There has
been a developing undercurrent for
Hoover. Then came the announcement
of the railroad brotherhoods urging or
giving as their reason the probability
that Vice President Dawes would be the
likely inheritor of Watson delegation
from Indiana to the Republican nation
a. convention.
The lineup still seems to favor Wat
son. on the surface at least. The Re-
publican organization of the State Is
for him. The Indiana Farm Bureau
Federation is for him. The Anti-Saloon
League while taking no sides openly,
has been supposed 70 be for him, though
there may be catch IN that. The big
daily newspapers in indianapolis are
supporting him. with the exception of
the Times. Scripps- Howard newspaper.
which is fighting for Hoover. And final
~, the Republicans who are at heart
for the nomination of Vice President
Dawes are moving heaven and earth Ror
Watson and against Hoover.
Demand Cleanup"
On the Hoover side is the demand
among many Republicans for clean
up" q getting away from the old Re-
pnblicsr organization, which is held re-
sponSible for the political scandals n
volving the party with the Ku Klux
Khan Senator Watson has been the
head OF that organization, although he
cisclaiIns all responsibility for the scan
Gals involving Republican officials Il
come 70 yoa with clean hands, he tells
the voteEs over and over again. insisting
that a political party is not 10 be held
responsible for the wrongdoing Of In
ciyidllals in that party.
Whatever the farmers may think OF
Mr. Hoover. and the officials Of the
Farm Bureau Federation insist they are
against him. there is large Hoover fol-
lowing in the cities. He viii get big
vote in indianapolis. He may get large
number Of woman voters. too, al
though Senator Watson is not without
. following among them. And finally.
organized labor. as represented By the
Railroad Brotherhoods- has taken OF
5ts coat and gone 70 work for Hoover
The Watson people claim that they
viii have plenty Of labor support, too.
They have gone 50 far as 70 intimate
thai the hrotherhoods are radical
element IN organized labor, having sup
ported La Toilette in the last national
campaign This has made many OF the
railroad workers see red, whether they
are Ped" or not. They claim they viii
control some 10000 votes in the State,
which Is a glzaole group. Indiana is a
railroad center. and many of the work
e.s live in the State and vote here The
anti Watson Dawes railroad workers in
sist they win cut into the Watson
strength considerably in the southern
pau Of the State. q section which has
been accorded generally 70 Watson.
On Herns of Dilemma.
The e53gencies Of the situation have
placed Watson ard his followers some
what on the horns Of a dilemma The
farmers are not particularly strong for
Watson. They are disguised with the
Republican organizatio for which he
stands. They would much prefer 70
vote directly for Frank o. L0wden Of
Illinois, or for Vice President Dawes.
gc appeaSe the farmers. the word has
been spread that vote for Watson is
vote for Lowden or Dawes But this
has aroused the labor people, who are
opposed 10 Dawes. and Senator Watson
has been at pains 70 explain that he
Is q candidate IN his own right and
TloG q stalking horse for Dawes or any
one else This Leaves the farmers con-
fused. There is a certain sulienness
among the farmers. q disinclination To
express themselves that might mean
ANYTHING.
The population Of Indiana Is divided
roughly into oae-toird or a little more
On the farms, and a little less than
fNo~tlir6s In the cities and towns
Many of the farmers are Republicans,
and what they 20 next Tuesday Is 90
ing 70 count lot What worries the
FaTm Bureau Federation is the fear
that many Of the farmers may not 20
10 the polls for one reason Or another
II Tuesday is a fair DAY. many Of
them may 60 right ahead with their
planting rather than 90 10 the voting
Eootas Furthermore the farmers at
tlt9de is described as anti~HOoyeY Fath-
~ than pro- Watson. They have been
siloyed into q position where they must
support Senator Watson, az he Is the
CONTINUED on Page 8, Column 81
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