The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-08-26
Senator Jim Wins Praise
for Good Fellowship,
Despite Scandals.
BUT ARTHUR-N0, NO.!
Labeled Tool of Khan, Petty,
Vain, SeCretive and
DiStruSted.
BY WALKER STONE
Times .StafT Writer

official life, just released by the
Liveright press. as the anonymous
work of the authors of The Wash
ington Merry Ground" promises
to create rumpus even greater than
did its predecessor, which has been
best seller for now more than a
year.
A striking article on Jim Watson
appears in chapter entitled
Muscle Men" is devoted to per-
sonality sketches and a revelation of
the activities of such staunch tories
as Watson, Senator Joe Robinson
Dem, Ark), Senator David A. Reed
rep, Pa, Senator Simeon FesS
rep, o., and Senator George
Moses rep. N. h
The Muscle Men" of the senate
are pictured as members of the only
political bloc" that never disin-
tegrates.
Defenders of Wealth
They never hold a caucus, and
on the surface there is even sharp
partisan variance among them," but
the record of their extensive oper-
ations is unassailable evidence of
their solidarity in defense of wealth
and special privilege
These men may oppose one an
other on the world court and pro-
hibition. They may differ as to
whether Hoover commission or
an equalization fee is the more de-
| sirable form of farm relief.
They may tussle and joust in
furious rhetorical combat as to
whether Republican or Demo-
crat shall sit in the White House
dispensing lush patronage and other
favors, such as White House break
fasts''
But
They Battle Together
LET some. fundamental economic
issue arise, such as curling the pow
er trust, slashing military budgets, or
taxing away vast concentrations of
wealth by high income and estate
levies Then Robinson, the
Democrat, and Smoot, the Repub-
lican, and all the others of this bloc,
will be found fighting shoulder to
shoulder in perfect harmony and
understanding.
These are the strong men of
the economic rulers of the land.
They are the Muscle Men of the
established order. :"
Speaking of Jim Watson, the book
says that his long and picturesque
career is a Muscle Man epic. 1t is
tale of endless demagoguery, re-
peated political scandal, the most
sordid, petty, and shameless
alliances, deals, and intrigues, and,
so far, unbroken political success"
Scandals Trotted Out
The article goes on to recount
Jim Watson's career in the bust
ness of politics" from the time he
entered congress as Uncle Joe Can
mons messenger" through his de-
feat by Tom Marshall for the gov
ernorship of Indiana in 1908
through his activities as lobbyist for
the National Manufacturers Asso-
citation, and the scandals of the
Mulhall lobby investigation, which
smeared Jim's reputation, but did
not prevent him from being elected
| to the senate in 1916. And, con-
Guiding:
Jim has been in the senate ever
since. For years he was hench-
man of Senator Boies Penrose,
Pennsylvania boss, and was known
as his errand boy When Penrose
and others of the Old Guard passed
from the scene, Jim became a lead
er in his own right and has been
Republican floor leader since 1923.
In 1926 he came within 1000
votes of being defeated. Unques-
tionably he would have been thrown
out if he had not made an alli-
ance with the Ku-Klux Khan,
which then ruled Indiana.
/ Jim is not member of the khan,
but he entered into a political ALI
ance with it to save his political
hide, as in other years he has
aligned himself with the Anti
Saloon League.
Robinson Is ScOrched
Jim has no real sympathy or Xix
ing for either organization. But a
majority is a majority to jim, and
that is all that counts"
Although the authors of More
Merry Go-Round" warm up jim
Watson because of his contagious
laugh and imperturbable good hui
NOR" and because of the real ge-
MUS in his handclasp," they see no
good whatever in Indiana's Junior
senator, Little Arthur" Robinson.
They deal with Robinson in a
chapter entitled THE Mutes." The
Senate Mutes, shrouded in dense
silence. and intellectual vacuum that
encompass them" are divided into
two classes: Those who never
talk. and those who sometimes open
their mouths, but say nothing"
Robinson is classified in the lat
Ter group,
Tool of Khan
After telling how D. G. Stephen
son, from his Jail cell, commanded
Governor Ed Jackson to appoint
Robinson to the senate, the article
goes on to assert that everything
that Robinson does in the senate
has the Klux imprint on it, /"
1t tells how he has consistently
blocked the appointment of Cath
olics to public Office. how he devel-
oped into the Republican party's
chief mud-slinger. how he was cas-
tigated from the floor Of the senate
by Jim Reed of Missouri and Millard
] Tydings of Maryland.
It then pokcs fun at Robinson's