The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-05-09
GUARDIANSHIP
OF DEMOCRATS
NOW AT STAKE
Factions Cracking Whip in
Effort to Line Up
Strength.
BY BEN STERN

Both factions Of the Democratic
party in the state To-Day we're crack
ing the whip over the county chair
men and vice-chairmen elected Sat-
urday in an effort to line them up
for the district reorganization con-
ventions Wednesday.
The state Craftsmanship is the
stake in this battle, the bitterest in
a quarter of a century, with the
group led by Frank Mayr Jr.. sec
rotary Of state.
James Carpenter. head of the au-
tomobile license department; Sieve
Fleming of Fort Wayne, and Rudy
Alderman and Chester Montgomery
Of South Bend, are beating the
bushes in an attempt to obtain suf-
ficient district chairmen 70 defeat
the reelection Of R. Earl Peters,
state chairman.
Claims Is Votes
Peters managers today claimed
that a sufficient number Of county
chairmen and vice chairmen have
been pledged to insure the state
chairman at least eighteen votes
when the state committee reorgan-
ICES here Saturday. Thirteen votes
will elect.
The Republican reorganization
here Wednesday is expected to be
a quiet affair with the prospect
that all OF the new officials ap-
pointed Dec. 81, by Senator James
E. Watson, will be reelected.
Republican vacancies to be filled
are in the new Tenth, where both
Raymond Springer and Ira Wilson
are chairmen of the districts
jumbled together by the redistrict-
ing act.
Wilson has been recommended
for postmaster at Muncie, so it ap-
pears that Springer, who has been
mentioned for the Governor and
Encouragement nominations, may
get the call.
The new Eleventh has a vacancy
and there is considerable talk that
Schuyler Mowrer. 1880 candidate for
the congressional nomination, may
be elected. He is regarded as a
faithful Watson man.
Two Men Mentioned
The main trouble with the anti
Peters faction has been its inability
to decide upon a contender for the
state Craftsmanship, it is declared.
Two men mentioned are Ed Els
ner of Seymour and Omer jackson
Of Greenfield, one-time manager of
DR.. Carleton 3. McCulloch in his
1924 Governor campaign. Jackson
was elected Hancock county chair
man Saturday.
It was reported today that the
anti-Peters faction will caucus to
make its selection and concentrate
its efforts behind the aspirant
chosen.
The Democratic chairman for the
Eleventh district is to be selected
Wednesday and, so far, the only
name mentioned has been that of
Dale Crittenberger, veteran Ander-
SUI GQ4LOls wiz ID a otduAAIAA cup
porter of Paul V. McNutt for the
Governor nomination and is eX-
pected to go for Peters because of
the close tieup between the two.
The Merchantmen are expected to
vote with the chairmen.
Bitter Fight in Ninth
The Peters group does not count
on the new First, although there is
some talk that one vote. that of the
vice-chairman, is to be theirs.
The fight in the ninth is bitter
with two old chairmen, Harry T.
Ferguson of Jeffersonville. and
Joseph w. Verbarg of North Vernon
battling it out, with H. L. Myers of
Holton being advanced by the
Peters contingent.
Peters friends have discounted
the Twelfth. although Thomas D.
Taggart, national committeeman, it
is said, will ask that at least one
vote be cast for the chairman.
If the claims of this group are
reliable, then Saturdays reorgan-
ization meeting will be a walkaway.
Wednesdays district reorganization
meeting will tell the tale.