The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-07-02
ROOSEVELT'S
CHOICE TO GET
INDIANA VOTES
HooSierS Will Back Garner,
If He's the Man, With
Fingers Crossed.
PLAY SMART POLITICS
State Delegation Is Ably
Handled by Big Four
in Chicago.
BY BEN STERN

thirty votes Will be cast Tor Ine
vice-presidential selection of Frank
lin D. Roosevelt, announced Frank
McHale, chairman Of the delegation,
shortly before the Democratic ma
tional convention was called to or
der at noon today.
Now that Roosevelt has been
nominated, the Indiana delegation
will go down the line for him as a
unit, the leaders declared.
If the presidential nominee wants
John Nance Garner, Speaker Of the
house Of representatives, as a run
ming mate, the thirty will be cast
that way, although there is not a
sign of enthusiasm for him among
the HOLSTERS.
In fact, they privately assert that
Garner will be a drag on the ticket
in Indiana because of his back
ground, but in spite Of this they will
do what the presidential nominee
desires.
Joins With Illinois
Indiana was on the Roosevelt
bandwagon when it rolled around
Friday night and it climbed on,
arm in arm, with Illinois SO votes
The leadership Of the McHale-
McNutt-Van Nuys-Taggart group
asserted itself even at the last
minute and the delegation vote
would have been divided just as it
was on the third ballot in the early
morning, if the tide had not swung
to Roosevelt because of CALIFORNIA;
shift from Garner.
AS soon as this took place a pro-
gram arranged two days ago with
Mayor Tony Cermak of Chicago,
head Of the Illinois delegation, went
into execution.
1t was reminiscent of the days
when the elder Thomas D. Taggart
had a close knit alliance with
George Brennan, Illinois boss, TO
hear Cermak announce that Till
nois and her sister state, Indiana,
cast their total of 88 votes for
Roosevelt"
Indiana on BandwagOn
Cheers swept the crowded stadium
when Cermak spoke, because the
Roosevelt men knew that it now
was all over but the shouting.
These two states held the balance
of power in the convention.
When Indiana was reached on the
roll, McHale announced Indiana
came to this convention unin-
structed and without a favorite son.
She takes great pleasure and pride
in joining with her sister state, Illi-
nois, in casting her thirty votes for
Governor Roosevelt"
Indiana was on the bandwagon
in plenty of time and yet had full
filled its pledge to the Stop-Roose-
welt group in three ballots during
the long, weary grind of Thursday
night and Friday morning.
The agreement with Illinois pro-
vided that when one of the two
states saw the break coming for any
candidate, the other would be mott
fed and the combined vote cast as
powerful unit.
Original plans called for the shift
to be to Newton D. Baker, war sec
rotary, but when California broke
to Roosevelt, the trend easily was
perceived.
Employ Clever Tactics
Credit for the tactics employed
during the convention by the In
diana group, which kept every one
guessing, must go to Paul V. Nc
Mutt, the Governor nominee; Fred
erick Van Mugs, senatorial nominee;
Thomas D. Taggart, national COM
mitteman, and McHale.
But after breaking a tradition of
many years-that Indiana was a
consistent bandwagon state in
politics-the Hoosier delegation
leaves here rich in powerful alliances
which, it is expected, will prove
beneficial four or eight years from
now when favorite son is offered
for the presidential nomination.
The strategy Of the leaders of the
delegation proved puzzling to the
rabid Roosevelt fans such as r. Earl
Peters, state chairman; Robert E.
Proctor. Roosevelts Indiana man
ager Of Elkhart; and William H.
OBrien of Lawrenceburg, who
wanted to toss in all thirty votes on
the first ballot. The fact that In
diana crawled on the wagon only
when political horse sense de-
manded this step showed real
courage.
When Indiana did go Roosevelt, it
knew that he was to be the nominee.
AT no time did the big four lose
control of the members and boasts
of Peters and Proctor that they
could give Roosevelt twenty-five
votes were proved to be of naught.
The lines held and Indiana, by
playing smart politics, remained in
key position until the end.