Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-09
POLITICIANS
SEE INDIANA
ASINDICATOR
Close Hoover Watson
Race Watched; Hope
For Texas Support
Dropped By Smith

WASHINGTON, Nay 9.-(Pl-The
neck and neck race between Herbert
Hoover and Senator Watson. as indi-
Gated on the basis Of partial returns
from the Indiana Presidential pref
erence primary, was being watched
by politicians the country over today
because of the effect the result is
expected to have on Hoover's show
ing at Kansas City and on Watson's
political power in his home state.
Returns early today chowed Wat
son had overcome the commerce sec
retary's lead as shown in the first
tabulations. Hoover forces had ex-
pected to get their greatest support
from the urban districts where as a
rule the votes are couned first. while
the senator. long a power in the re-
publican organization in Indiana.
looked for his biggest help in the
country sections.
The two are fighting il out for
Indiana's 80 delegates to the repub-
lican national convention These
will be instructed in state conven-
tions May "a for the man who polls
the most votes in the preference pri-
mary Under the state law, the pri-
mary winner gets the solid support
Of the delegation until released by
the candidate to whom they Ire
pledged
Indiana Shows Trend
III Hoover could not win the pri-
mary. his hackers were hoping he
would make a good showing at least.
Should the result show this to be
the case. they contended it would
practically clinch the secretary's
nomination because Of the effect il
would have in convincing delegates
thus far undecided as to preference
Of his running ability against solid
organizations opposition.
On the other hand, Hoover's foes
have held that if he did not make
a favorable showing in Indiana il
would reveal a weakness, particular
liz among the farm elements. and
hurt his chances for the nomination.
One OF Hoover's opponents in the
primary was the state head of the
American farm bureau federation.
On the decorate side of the In
diana situation, the 30 Houston con-
vention delegates - he chosen on
June 6 and Z will Le instructed for
Evans Woollen. His name was the
only one entered in yesterdays pri-
mary and since the state law pro-
hibits the writing in OF names the
preference vote for him means that
the delegates selected next month
must be pledged accordingly.
Smith Loses Texas
However. Governor Smith. leading
BY far in the democratic nomination
fight, may ultimately get support
from the Indiana group. in the opin-
ion OF his hackers. They are hope
full that the delegates pledged to
Tom Taggart's candidate will not
stand out long against Smith once
the trend is shown in the early
balloting.
On the other hand. they do not look
for any support in the convention
from the 20 Texas delegates to be
chosen at Beaumon. May %. County
conventions held in that state YES
terday indicated a big majority Of
the state convention delegates would
be instructed TO work for a dry plank
in the democratic platform.
Early returns from the Alabama
democratic primary Yesterday indi-
Gated that Smith was waging a los
ing battle there for a block Of the "a
state delegates.
Smiths delegate total. however.
Will take another jump today when
Michigan democrats, in convention,
give him their 80 delegates. The
New York governor was unopposed
in the preference primary in that
state in April. His total slate Of
pledged and claimed delegates thus
will be raised to SAT 10, counting
Delaware's six chosen yesterday as
uninstructed bat claimed for Smith.
Hoover's total will be boosted 70
438 pledged and claimed delegates
when Maryland republicans swing 19
to his credit in convention later this
month.