Evening star., 1928-04-29
WATSON SPONSORS
FEAR SILENT VOTE"
Rising of Apathetic Element
Might Prove Blow to
Organization.
Special Dispatch to The star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, April 28.-Her-
bert G. Hoovers surprising vote in the
Ohio presidential primary caused the
leaders of Senator Watson's campaign
IN Indiana to pause and take stock OF
the situation and to wonder II, after ALL
they had been too overconfident about
the results in the HooSier primary May
g. AT the same time, 1t brought ray
of hope to the Hoover headquarters
staff and led to predictions by Oscar
Foellinger, Hoover's State campaign
manager, that the Secretary would
sweep the State as he did In Ohio.
Although most observers will admit
| that the Ohio result will have an effect
on the Indiana campaign, they still
do not believe Hoover can overcome the
| tremendous odds he faces in Indiana
| Senator Watson's managers are conf
dent that he will carry the popular vote
and they see only two weak places, the
| twelfth and thirteenth districts, but
they are taking no chances and are now
busy seeing TO 1t that their fences are
tightly closed everywhere.
Leaders Apprehensive.
| With general apathy prevailing as
primary day draws near, many Repub-
lican leaders have begun to be some
what apprehensive, but whether that is
Just state OF nerves or a politicians
hunch that something is going to hap
pen, 1t Is difficult to say. Indiana voters
have some good examples of pro-Hoover
sentiment in nearby States. Michigan
and Kentucky have gone into the
Hoover camp. and now Ohio goes over
to him, so Hoosier leaders are wonder
ing II there is an actual ground swell in
their own State that will be Of benefit
to the Secretary. Then to the west
they have Illinois, which arose and
ousted the Thompson Small machine in
surprising overturn.
There Is an undisguised fear here that
that part Of the voting element which
mas remained silent, and which appar-
entity is apathetic, might rise as 1t did
In Illinois and smite the prevailing lead
ership. It Is no secret that great num-
oers OF Republicans. disguised over the
repeated revelations of corruption among
G. O. P. officials. are taking no part in
the primary campaign. If that so-called
silent vote should come out on primary
Gay, there Is no doubt that II could
oVerturn the present Republican leader
snip, and Hoover would be the bene-
f1ciary
Although Senator Watson has a tight
hold on the organization. mutterincs
continually are heard that inasmuch as
ne was the party's titular leader when
tne ku klux Klan captured the bulk of
the State government. he should be held
Responsible for the present-day condi-
tion OF Indiana politics. The Senator
no doubt is cognizant of that snirit for
IN his first speech on coming back IN
Indiana this week he asserted that the
Republican party could not be held re-
sponsinle for the miSdeeds of some of
its members. That assertion was inter-
preteo TO mean that the Senator does
not intend that the party shall stand
sponsor for Gov. Ed Jackson. who re-
Gently was freed of indictment under
the statute of limitations.
WaIb Is on Trial.
Adding fuel TO the smolderinr fame
Is the trial of Clyde A. Walb former
republican State chairman, on a charge
OF wrecking bank at Lagrange. Walb.
VINO was picked for the chairmanship
oy the Senator's friends. did not resign
nntn after he was indicted. Watson's
Toes are using the revelations of the
him. s"''"'
Many. however. looking over the fence
INTO Ohio. see little or no comparison In
the situations. In Ohio. they point out
some OF the organizations have gone
over TO Hoover. while in Indiana every
organization leader, big or little. is loyal
10 watson The entire Indiana com
gressional delegation is for watson
while In Ohio the delegation was split
one thing that is of inestimable
dement, to Watson Is the feeling on the
part OF many that vote for him is in
feaNty vote for Frank o. Lowden or
vice President Dawes. The Organized
farmers are supporting Watson in the
peiiei that II he cannot make the grade.
ne wiil swing the Indiana delegation 10
Lowden, while many others believe he
ultimately will so to Dawes. In other
WORDS, Watson not only is getting the
peHeIlt eIlt OF those who would sincerely
LIAe 20 see MN become the presidential
nominee. but he is receiving the Snn-
port OF the Lowden and Dawes adyo-
Gates. "N'"
senator Watson has returned 10 the
state 10 remain until after the primary
and Is spending his time In the north
ern part OF the State. where the bllk of
Hoover sentiment lies. He is speaking &C
Soutn Bend, Elkhart and Fort WAYNE
ana plans to go into Lake County the
states great Industrial center on the
oofuers OF Chicago Organization work
~ ms pehaIi, too Is being pushed in
=.
the State only three vulnerable nlaces
are found in the Watson line-un, In
Slcnmond: where a large Quaker pop
uiation is Tor Hoover, In Muncie, where |
George b. Lockwood. one Of Hoover's
nationai campaign managers, lives. and |
IN kokomo, the only place Watson lost |
test. wa
Count IN puhlicttv
The Hoover managers apparentlv have |
all but abandoned Intensive orraniSa-
uon work and are counting on an in |
tensiVe publicity campaign to swell their |
vote. In addition 10 their regular |
publicity director, Don Ward of Fort |
Wayne. they have added to the writing |
stan VIII Irwin. noted author. and Don |
EWING. formerly n reporter on the Chi |
cago tribune Columns OF publicity |
are pouring forth from headquarters |
each day In behalf OF the Secretary OF |
Commerce.
4 speaking campaign that had been
outlined for Hoover apparently has
tailed TO materialtse. Foellinger am
nonnced few days ago that Repre-
sentative Burton OF Ohio and Ogden l..
MiHs Assistant Secretary Of the Treas
nry, would speak In the State for the
secretary, Now come reports that Bur
ton mas no intention OF coming here
and that Mills Is too busy 20 leave
Washington, ]. Adam Bede. formerly
representative from Minnesota and
Well known on the lecture platform In
Indiana, Is the only outside speaker
thus Tar who has come To stump for
the Secretary.
As rule the Republicans cast about
400, 900 votes In the primary elections
or about 100000 less than their normal
vote Many observers believe that II
there Is the usual primary turnout Ii
viii be largely the results OF organi.
cation effort and. of ea,irSe Watson wtn