The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-11-05
TESS FIGHTING
STUBBORN BUT
LOSING BATTLE
Donahey Is 81 Favorite to
Win Tomorrow Over
Ohio Veteran.
By scripps-Ho,oard Newspaper Alliance

COLUMBUS, Nov. 5.-Senator
Simeon D. Fess, indicated in twen-
ty-two years OF Ohio politics, is
fighting a losing battle with ex-
Governor A Vic Donahey to retain
his seat in the United States senate.
Bookmakers here offer odds of 6
to l on Mr.. Donahey with few
takers. Newspaper polls show Don
ahey leading by to l, and predic-
tons that the senator will trail his
Democratic opponent in tomorrow
election by 100000 or more are made
by careful and conservative OBJ
servers.
But the little red-faced professor
who advanced from the presidency
of Antioch college in 1912 to seat
in the house, then graduated to the
senate in 1922, isn't receding an
inch from his uncompromiSing OPP
position to the New Deal. If he
senses the futility of pleading the
cause of rugged individualism in the
face of relief benefits to untold
thousands and flood of hog and
corn checks, he refuses to admit it.
Stuck by Dry Cause
However, the New Deal is only
one factor, and by no means the
dominating one in Ohio's senatorial
campaign.
Senator Tess weakened himself in
the urban centers, particularly
Cleveland and Cincinnati, when he
refused to bow to the inevitable
when the nti-prohibition tide swept
the country two years ago. This was
shown when he lost Cuyahoga coun-
ty (Cleveland) in the primary this
year to young common pleas
Judge from Akron.
Mr.. FeSs might have survived the
reprisals of the vets, and even his
opposition to the Roosevelt recovery
policies, had the Democrats non1i-
mated any one but Honest Vic"
Donahey.
It is an interesting commentary
on political reactions that in this
period of trial and perplexity the
voters turned to a tried leader who
has been before the public as long
as Mr.. Tess has, rather than en-
brace one of the more modern
schools of political and economic
thought.
"Vic Peoples Governor"
Many in Ohio are reserving Judg-
ment with respect to the New Deal,
where they do not openly question
the wisdom of certain phases OF the
Roosevelt program. These voters
have instinctively turned to Mr..
Donahey. No one can state with
any exactitude just where he STANDS
on most of the current national
problems, but there is a feeling that
he was a peoples Governor" and
that he will be a peoples senator"
This is true even among the arid
Methodists who stood with Mr.. Fess
in the heyday of the Antl-Saloon
League.
Few of the states political lead
ers agree with this estimate OF Mr..
Donahey. Not one of the big names
in Ohio politics was listed as a
Donahey hacker in the primary
campaign. But the opinion enter
tanned in certain quarters that ne
was not senatorial caliber did not
disturb Honest Vic"
During the campaign, and II
elected" he said, 81 will not pose
as an intellectual giant, but yield
to no man in my understanding OF
the peoples problems, love OF
country and loyalty to the people
of Ohio"
Tess Fighting Hard
On that basis, he defeated two
strong opponents by plurality Of
10000, without a headquarters and
spending less than $500.
Mr.. Fes is delivering several
speeches a day, speaking for one
and sometimes two hours at each
meeting. He discusses in infinite
detail each phase of the New Deal,
contrasting it's trend toward regi-
mentation with the freedom of in
dividual initiative under the old
order, which he so stoutly defends.
But although his resolute stand has
! stiffened the backs of the Repub-
lican die-hards, it isn't winning
| him many new votes.
Mr.. Donahey is coasting along, his
occasional speeches amounting to
little more than informal bows at
partisan rallies. But mention of his
name at such gatherings elicits
more applause than Mr.. Roosevelt's.
The gubernatorial contest between
ex-Congressman Martin L. Davey,
Democrat, and Clarence j. Brown,
former secretary of state and twice
lieutenant-governor of Ohio, is a nip
ard tuck affair.
Neither candidate for governor
commands united support in his
party, but Mr. Davey appears to
have a better claim upon the large
Independent vote. A bid for bi-par-
tisan and independent support is
seen in the formation Of Davey-
Donahey clubs in several counties.
Mr.. Donahey was strong enough
to win the governorship in 1922, 1924
and 1926, all Republican years, so
much of his following is outside OF
nominal Democratic ranks.