The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-14
RALLY Leslie
ALLIES; COFFIN
FIRST VICTOR
Forces of Governor Are
RepuISed in SkirmiSh;
Plan New Drive.
WARNING TO ROGERS
Singing Rebuke Reported;
Hints Patronage May
Be Withheld.

Repulsed in their first attack. Re
publican political leaders, including
the close advisers Of Governor Harry
q. Leslie this afternoon collected
their scattered forces and prepared
zor another onslaught in the war to
unSeat George Y. Coffin as dictator
OF the party in Marion county in the
Republican city convention, Satur-
day.
It was reported Governor Harry
@. Leslie administered a stinging
warning to Republican State Chair
man Eliza o. Rogers that there
would be better cooperation with
the state administration than was
shown in the meeting of the Re-
publican state committee Wednes-
day afternoon, or the state commit
tee as well as Coffin would be out
in the cold so far as state patronage
is concerned.
Some Fear by COffinites
2. The first sign that the Coffin
forces fear the power of the coali-
ton against them, despite their
jubilant assertions Of Wednesday
that they would have the conven-
tion "Sewed up" came when Coffin
leaders approached the Leslie ad-
visers with a proposition that a
compromise city chairman be
named.
The candidate proposed by the
Coffin messengers did not please the
Leslie advisers and they elected the
proposition, preferring to lick Coffin
in an out and out fight or go down
righting and be in good position for
the next attack.
Three StatehouSe leaders already
have prepared a list Of appointeeS
placed by Coffin when Ed jackson
was Governor, who will be kicked
out Of their jobs summarily if the
city convention goes according to
Coffin's wishes Saturday.
Leslie Remains Silent
T. The Leslie, and other anti
Coffin groups got together this
morning and determined that there
might be some chance to beat Coffin
at his own game Saturday and de-
cided to do what they could to swing
votes to some coalition candidate.
Before this conference it had
practically been decided there was
no use battling Coffin since his
aids had prevented the state COM
mittee from changing rules WedneS-
day afternoon SO as to insure a talI
election Of a citV chairman
Leslie, personally was remaining
silent. Il am too busy with state
affairs to talk politics" he said.
Another gun ready to be fired by
the Leslie group according to re-
ports today, is the introduction OF
bill in the legislature which viii
take the state police and automo-
bile license bureau away from the
Office of the secretary of state anc
place it under a commission.
Such a measure could be used as
a club to force Otto G. Fif1eld, Sec
retary of state, to require the
Marion county precinct committee
men employed in his office to aic
in ousting Coffin, it was pointed out
Present draft of the bill calls fol
appointment Of three commissioners
by the Governor. no more than two
OF the same political faith. The
commission would be called the
motor vehicle commission and would
be empowered to appoint a directc!
at a salary of $5.000
Pass on Its Merits
The director would have charge o.
both the state police and the auto
mobile license business and employt
such persons as he sees fit to carry
on the work without regard to po.
litical affiliations"
Such a measure might pass on it
merit it was asserted, and turn int
law rather than a club.
The convention is scheduled for
p. m. Saturday in the K. Of P. build.
ing.
The most important rule change
denied would have given the state
chairman authority to name a tenn.
porary chairman for city reorgani.
zation meetings. This would have
enabled Rogers to name an impair
tiaI temporary chairman who, II
turn. would have named a Creden'
tials committee of such makeup
as to insure duly qualified precinc'
committeeman to enter and vote
but barring the promiscuous use o.
proxies and steam-roller tactic:
characteristic Of controlled
meetings.
Finding the sentiment" of The
committee against wholesale rule
revision, the state chairman was di'
rected to appoint committee o
three to consider the proposed
changes. He named Frank w. Cor
don OF Bluffton. David NJ. Hoover
of Elkhart and Ewing 'Emison OF
Vincennes. No date was set for theil
reDort