The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-12-15
Watson Expected to Make
Race Against Robinson
for Nomination.
CANFIELD TO RUN AGAIN
Wood, PurneII and HOgg in
Mood to Battle for
Congress Return.
BY WALKER STONE
Times stan Writer

Wiz ~ years dSOs A4Olt1do
Jefferson was asked why older men
continued so long in public Office.
Few die; none resign solilo-
quized the Sage of Monticello.
Particularly is that true of those
who come to congress. experience
the heady delights of mingling with
the great and near great, and get
the feel of the national political
pulse.
Only one of hundred ever re-
tires voluntarily. And investigation
generally proves that the one quit
because of promonition that he
was marked for defeat.
Moreover, only handful of those
forced to swallow the bitter medi-
cine of defeat ever acquiesce in the
popular verdict. The others can be
counted on to try to come back.
First is Jim Watson
Indiana has six lame ducks in
this session of congress. First and
foremost Of these, of course, is
Senator Sunny jim" Walton. Close
behind limp his three Republican
pals, Congressman Will Wood, Fred
Purnell and Dave Hogg. Then come
the two Democrats eliminated in the
primaries, Representatives Harry G.
Garfield and CORTLAND Gillen.
Betting odds in Washington are
3 to 2 that five of the six Hoosier
lame ducks" will try to come back
in 1884. Gillen is the only one who
generally is counted on to return
peacefully to private life. And the
principal reason he is counted out
is that this is his first term. He
hasn't been here long enough to
catch the political fever
Watson, it is believed, already is
counting Republican heads, trying
to figure whether he will be able to
take the senatorial nomination
away from Arthur Robinson. SEN
ator Jim, it is said, doesn't relish
the thought of a catch-as-catch-c
battle with Robinson, for the latter
recognizes his own and not the
Marquis de Queensberrys rules of
combat.
Call Selves Landslide Victims
Wood, Purnell and Hogg consider
themselves victims of a Democratic
landslide, and believe the reaction
will set in before November, 1884.
They are expected to try to win
back their present seats.
Garfield, it is known, already has
decided that he has unfinished bust
ness to attend to in congress. He
Is patching up his political fences,
preparing to challenge Representa-
tive Gene Grove in the Democratic
primaries two years hence.
II there is any man among the
Indiana lame ducks who should be
sour on the voters, it is Garfield.
Now rounding out his tenth year in Z
congress, he has moved up step by
step In the house party organiza-
ton. A member of the most i'm
portant committee in the house. the
committee on ways and means. he
was, up to his defeat in the last
primary, on fair way to become
real power.
But the years of steady climbing
were Tor naught. The Democrats of
the new Ninth district turned him
out and kept, instead, a freshman
congressman. Garfield, it is true.
TOOK too much for granted, relying
on his prestige and seniority, while
Grove beat the bushes in the new
district.
Garfield Does Job Well
The Democratic members of the
ways and means committee function
as a committee on committees for
the house party organization. And
Garfield performed so well at the
beginning Of last session that he
secured choice committee assign
ments for all his colleagues.
He helped advance Greenwood to
the rules committee and Ludlow to
the appropriations committee. both
coveted assignments. And for all
Democratic st-termers from In
diana, he obtained either seats on
exclusive committees or assignments
10 nve minor committees, He gave
his then prospective opponent.
Grove, five committees-immi
ton, pensions, public buildings
roads and territories.
Although Canfield's close Coop
Grafton with the party leadership
enabled him to promote Indiana's
influence, it contributed not at all
10 his popularity back in the dis
trict. He felt that he had to "eo
along" with Speaker Garner on the
manufacturers sales tax, and he
gained the reputation of being a
conservative.
Grove Joins Rebels
On the other hand, Grove Joined
the rebels. Rebellion was popular
with Democratic voters last sum-
mer. But conservatism may have
its day in the summer CT 1934-at
least, Garfield seems to think it
will Anyhow, he doesn't relish the
prospect of returning to the prosaic
life of a furniture manufacturer
and banker in Batesville.
A ponderous, sloW-moving fellow.
with a broad, expansive front, re-
sembling that Of William Howard
Taft, Garfield was not quick to
sense the shift in sentiment against
prohibition. He remained too long
on the dry reservation.
But he made himself solid with
the vets when he voted last week to
carry out the platform pledge and
pass a repeal resolution. At the
same time, he made gesture Of
Cancellation toward the oeleaguered
dryS by introducing a modified re-
peal resolution, prohibiting return
of the saloon. and an emascnlated-