Evening star., 1928-04-15
INDIANA FAvOR|TE
SONS ARE ROUSED.
Cast Anxious Eyes on Mount
ing Strength of Smith
and Hoover.
Special Dispatch to The star.

Special Dispatch to The star.
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. April IA
Managers Of Senator James f. Watson,
candidate for the Republican presiden-
tial Endorsement in Indiana and Evans
Woollen, the Hoosier offering for the
Democratic presidential nomination.
have begun to cast anxious eyes on the
steadily mounting toll of delegates for
Herbert Hoover and Gov. Smith. Each
camp is fearful. although not publicly
admitting the fact. that unless Hoover
and Smith are stopped, the Indiada
favorites may never get a chance to
show in their respective national con-
ventionS.
The Watson camp is not alarmed
about what Indiana will do in the pri-
mary May 8, for they firmly believe the
Senator will sweep the State against
Hoover and that he will have the
States 33 votes to start with at Kansas
City. The Hoover people. likewise, ap-
pear to be confident, although admit
ting that their campaign has not at
tracted the popular support they had
reason To expect 1t would
1t appears to be a foregone conclu-
sion that the Hoover managers have
abandoned any hope of sweeping the
State against Watson. but are pinnlng
their faith on showing enough strength
to name district delegates who would
swing to Hoover if Watson should re-
lease them in the convention. Unless
they are successful however. in carry
ing a district or two. 1t is not likely that
any of the Indiana delegation ever will
Political leaders say the only way in
which the Hoosier delegates, providing
present plans materialiZe, ever will sup
port Hoover will be on bandwagon
movement.
Ready to Back Dawes.
II present plans are carried out the
Indiana delegates will stick to Watson
so long as he has a chance and then
probably will go TO Frank o. Lowden.
II the Illinoisian falters. they are pre-
pared to go to Vice President Dawes.
There is no secret about this arrange
ment: the Hoover headquarters has
commented on it. but the arrangement
seems to satisfy everybody except those
who favor the Secretary of Commerce.
A subject that has been on the minds
Of several Indiana leaders was made
articulate this week when Representa-
tive Dickinson Of Iowa. one of the agri-
cultural leaders in Congress. came TO
the State for a series of speeches, He
predicted that If Hoover is nominated
he will lose Indiana by substantial
vote. The Hoover managers countered
by asserting that the Secretary would
prove one Of the most popular candi-
dates the G. o. p. ever offered and that
he would sweep the State by the GUS
tomary Republican majority
Dickinson was sent into the purely
agricultural districts to arouse still
further the farmer uprising against
Hoover. He was welcomed To the State
by w. H. Settle. president of the In
diana Federation of Farmers, who has
come out publicly against Hoover.
Watson on Stump.
Senator Watson returned to the State
this week and opened hts campaign
with speech at Winchester, his BIRTH
place. From there he plans to 60 into
the thirteenth and twelfth districts.
where the Hoover strength appears
strongest. Watson. following his an
nounced plan, refrained from mention
ing his opponent, but stressed Repub-
licanism and dwelt at length on farm
relief bills, which he has supported In
Congress
Thomas Taggart. regarded as the
sponsor OF the Woollen movement. does
not appear alarmed over the growing
list Of Smith delegates. 1t Is known
that Taggart is friendly with the Smith
leaders and 1t Is not likely. If Indiana
votes are needed 10 put the New York
Governor over, that Taggart would hold
out for any length of time. He mas
pinned his hopes. however, on a dead
lock. which would swing the convention
to a Middle Western man and he be-
lieveS Wooilen stands In strategic
position II Smith cannot go across
HAROLD C.. FEIGHTNER.