The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-01-11
Under the Shell

Senator Watson, arriving today for long
and serious conferences with his friends, an
nounces that he wants the cooperation of "not
only all loyal Republicans, but all friends of
clean government"
The Senator sends word in advance of his
purpose
He says that his interest is in his party and
then he makes this most significant state
ment, 81 expect to do everything can to bring
about such condition as will restore conf
dence in its organization and in it's leadeship."
That is something of an admission.
1t means that the Senator believes that the
leadership and organization of his party no
longer enjoy any confidence. 1t is confession
that the machine which sent him back for six
years to the Senate is wrecked and discredited.
The admission Of the Senator makes it
unanimous. He finally puts into words what
has been most apparent since Stephenson, from
his prison CELL announced that he could prove
vast political corruption.
The "Black Boxes" have since disgorged.
There have been indictments and convictions
of those who stood high in this same organiza-
ton and who held positions of leadership.
No wonder the Senator wants to do some
thing to "restore confidence" in an organiza-
ton and leadership of his party
The truth is that it is Watson .organiza-
ton and his leaders who have lost confidence
If the Senator wants to alibi for himself,
he should be frank enough to say he bar
ryi+b rbo |,
and that the discredited leaders and discredited
organization insisted upon the election of his
colleague, Senator Arthur Robinson.
The Senator ought to know and his friends
should tell him if he fails to recognize the stu
alton, that no three-shell artists can operate in
Indiana this year.
The people have been dsillusioned and no
confidence game of attracting attention from
the sources of discredit can be worked.
This very friendly warning is necessary
because the surface indications point to just
such method of restoring confidence
The only tangible movement thus far is
the scattering OF petitions to put the name of
Watson on the ballot in the primaries as a can
didate for President.
That is one of the oldest of political tricks.
For no one, not even Watson, could believe that
he has any serious idea that the Republicans of
the Nation would select as it's standard bearer
the beneficiary of the organization and leader
ship which Watson admits is discredited.
That has only one object. 1t is to keep the
Republicans of the State from expressing their
,;11io tho oil idatn fho
Office 1t would permit Watson, if he can get
away with it, to trade the influence of Indiana
in the convention for such power as he might
be able to obtain from managers Of candidates.
The ludicrous part of the situation is that
the Senator is using an organization that he
says is discredited to obtain signatures to his
own petitions.
1t is always embarrassing to find State
chairman under indictment in the Federal
Courts That does not make for confidence. The
Senator does not seem willing to permit his
State committee to pick successor. He looks
in vain among its membership for some one to
restore confidence among loyal Republicans.
He has hard job, unless he shows courage
enough to advise his party to really reform and
start the reformation by appealing to friends
Of clean government to select some other candl-
date for the Senate than the friend of George
" Coffin, also under Indictment
Every county fair in other days had its
slick operator of little game called the
"three shells"
That had it's advantage. The people learned
to watch for the pea. They will want to be
very sure that they find the ''new deal" under
one of the three shells which the Senator is
now operating. They want something more
than the privilege of letting Watson trade the
votes of Indiana in Republican convention.