The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-10-24
Victory for Democrats in
Seven Congressional
Districts Probable.
REPUBLICANS IN GLOOM
Leaders Agree With 0p-
ponentS in Many Fore
casts of Nov. q Ballot.
BY BEN STERN

Ing contest draws to close the
consensus of prediction is: Indiana
will go Democratic this year"
Prophets qualify this by saying,
however, that several districts will
return Republican representatives
to congress, but that the partys
state ticket is doomed.
Not only are the partisan Demo-
Gratis predicting victory, but Repub
leans are shaking their heads in
gloomy assent.
Things look too good for US is
the comment of Democratic execu-
i've members, who met here Thurs
day; while Republican leaders saw,
It's a fight, but we will win. al
though not by big majority"
Forecast of 5000 Majority
Money for betting purposes has
made an appearance with confident
Democrats willing to wager that the
state ticket will win by not less than
$4,000 votes.
And there have, so far been no
takers.
Walter Chambers, Newcastle edi-
tor and Democratic candidate for
state senator from Henry. Hancoch,
ana Madison counties today de-
clared he was confident Democrats
would carry at least nine districts
and possibly eleven"
Other Democratic leaders Join in
this prediction, but let us look at
the other side of the picture.
The one man connected with the
Republican state organization. who
is considered its cleverest ANALYST
ana best politician today confident
ly declared that he was positive Re-
publicans would carry the Fifth
Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth and
Twelfth districts.
This would give the Democrats
seven instead of nine districts, as
has been asserted.
1hls same Republican says the
state ticket is safely over.
What is the basis for the con-
tldence of the Republicans regard
ing the six districts named is a
question that can be fairly asked
Over a ten-year period not one
of those districts have been lost to
the Republicans.
sometimes the pluralities have
been but slight, but they have re-
manned in the Republican column.
Seven Appear Lost to G. or.
With Republicans refraining from
claiming the First, Second, Third.
Fourth, Seventh, Eleventh or Thir-
tenth districts, the Democrats may
feel sure that, except for the I'M
expected, they have seven districts
in the sack.
Claims of additional victories are
based primarily on industrial dis
content, business depression and
farmer unrest.
The same condition prevailed in
1893 and in the 1894 election the
Republicans carried every district
and swept into power with
plurality of $4,000 votes.
Democratic leaders base their
claims for winning the Fifth dis
trict on the fact that in the off,
year elections of 1918 and 1922 they
lost the district by but 1853 and
1,011 votes respectively. Present
conditions warrant, in their est
nation. the assumption of victory.
Industrial centers in the Sixth dis
trict have suffered severely from the
depression and Democrats believe
the 3.511 Republican plurality of
1918 and the 2,463 plurality of 1922
will be wiped out. And they may
win the district by 1000 votes. The
reverse is probable in this writer's
estimation.
Albert Vestal, Republican whip in
the house of representatives, is put
ting up bitter battle for re-elec-
ton in the Eighth district In two
of-year elections the Republican
plurality was less than 5000, only
topping that figure in 1926. If pub
lie interest is aroused by present
conditions Vestal may be beaten,
but-and it is big but-he may
be reelected by 1000 votes.
The representative from the Ninth
district, Fred Purnell, of Attica. is
ranking member of the house agri-
cultural committee and has for
long time posed as farmers cham
pion. It is true that Harry Matlock,
self styled "dirt farmer" is his OPP
ponent but the Ninth in ten years
has returned Republican by not
less than 1924 votes. Some Demo-
Gratis, however, are predicting VIC
tory by $500 votes.
Wood Victory Assured
There need be little considera-
ton given the possibility of
Democrat being elected to the
house of representatives from the
Tenth district. VIII R. Wood. Re
publican incumbent is firmly in the
saddle and only a Democratic
landslide will result in his defeat
by Charles j. Murphy of Brookston.
In event Of a landslide all calcula-
tons may be cast sside and the
Democrats assured all districts.
A bitter battle is being waged in
the Eleventh, and the incumbent,
Albert r. Hall, Republican, Marion,
may be endorsed by Glenn Girls
void, Peru, legionnaire and union
card holder. Precedent for a DEM
ocratic victory is seen in the re-
suits of the 1922 election. when
Samuel E. Cook, Democrat, was
elected by a plurality Of 6,1O4 votes
He was defeated two years later by
Hall.
T. P. Riddle, Democratic con-
tender for representative from the
Twelfth district is showing sufficient
strength to seriously worry The in