Evening star., 1934-06-04
The Political Mill
By C. Could Lincoln.

Senator Arthur Robinson of In
diana faces a mean fight in the Re-
publican State convention tomorrow,
when he comes up for denomination.
| He has had a run-in with the Repub-
lican State Committee and has in
censed some of the members with
statement asserting that certain Re-
publicans seemed to have been work.
ing under cover with the administration
of Gov. Paul McNutt, Democrat. In
Indiana the senatorial nominations are
made in party convention. the dele
gates having previously been chosen
in primary election, when the can
didates for membership in the House
are elected. There has been a lot of
threatening talk about what will be
done to Arthur Robinson, but whether
anything will materialiZe remains to
be seen. 1t does not appear that the
opposition has been able to pick a
man for the senatorial nomination
who would have a show, and it is i'm
possible to beat somebody with no.
body"
The Hoosier Democrats meet on
June IL in convention to nominate
their candidate for Senator to run for
the seat now occupied by Robinson.
They. too, have been engaging in a
fine intraparty row. Gov. McNutt's s
faction Is at outs with the faction
headed by r. Earle Peters. former
State chairman. Peters, it is reported.
has more pledged delegates to the
convention than any of the other
candidates for the senatorial nomina-
ton. But he is considerably short of
the necessary majority. In this situ-
alton 1t looks as though a compromise
candidate for the Senate is the only
sensible course for the Democrats to
pursue. A great deal of sentiment
for the nomination of Representative
Louis Ludlow of Indianapolis has de-
veloped. He has let it be known that
he is candidate for the nomination.
provided his friends want him to get
into the race. Already he has been
renominated for the House. without
opposition from Democratic sources
in his district, He is now serving his
thlrd term in the House. His first
victory, in 1928, the year OF the
Hoover landslide, is remarkable in
view OF the fact that Marion County
has in the past been strongly Repub-
l1can, and was carried by Hoover by
$4,000 while Ludlow was winning the
congressional election with a 5000
lead over his Republican opponent.
***
No member of the House is more
widely known in Washington than
Louis Ludlow. He served for % wears
in the press gallery as correspondent
Tor many Indiana and Ohio news
papers. He has a remarkable record
in the House for getting things done,
and has increased his popularity in
his own district. He has been a sup
porter OF the Roosevelt program, but
has not hesitateG to vote for measures
which he considered worthy or to
oppose those he did not consider
proper. irrespective of party The
Democrats who are putting him for
ward for the senatorial nomination
believe that he would roll up a big
lead in Marion County and that he
could win the election, and that he
would be supported by a large num-
Der Of independent voters and some
Republicans. The McNutt admins
tration has not been popular in In
diana and 1t is considered necessary
to put forward a strong senatorial
candidate If the Democrats are to
have chance to win next November.
Senator Robinson is vivid cam
paigner and hard fighter, and not
withStanding the fact he has enemies
in the State. he will be difficult man
for the Democrats to beat. if he be
nominated, as now seems likely despite
the opposition to him that arises in
the convention.
Conflicting reports come from the
Middle West regarding the continuing
popularity and lack Of popularity OF
for example In 1882 that State rolled
up a very considerable lead for Roose-
welt over President Hoover and elected
Democratic Governor and Senator
The Roosevelt lead there. however. did
not reach the proportions which had
been claimed for it earlier in the cam
paign. More recently reports have
reached Washington that there has
been a big swing back toward Repub-
licanism and away from the Democ-
racy. Senator FeSs. Republican, is up
for reelection and the Democrats
have marked him for victim in No
vember. But collecting the FeSs polit-
ical scalp is not likely to be an easy
job. The Republicans have determined
to go along with the veteran Senator
He will be practically unopposed fol
denomination, according to all present
indications The final day for filing
for the Senate in Ohio is June Is. Al
one time it was thought Robert Taft
son Of the late President Taft. would
enter the lists. He has had an ambl-
ton to 90 to the Senate for some time
it is said But he has given Senator
Fess assurance of his support for re-
nomination and reelection. Gilbert
Bettman, former attorney general oi
the State and a candidate for the
Senate against Senator Bulkley II
1882. has said. too. that he Will moi
be a candidate this year.
Down In West Virginia a tentative
boom has been started for Glen
|
, ton for the Senate. Shaver was
chairman of the Democratic Nationa
Committee when John w. Davis was
the party's nominee for President II
1924 Shaver was a close persona
friend of Mr.. Davis. Mr.. Shaver
name, however, may be just an addee
entry in this race. in which already
| a large number of candidates haV'
Joined, among them former Senator
William E. Chiffon. who was In WASH
ington during the Wilson administra'
| ton. The Republican incumbent
Senator Hatfield. is likely to have
real battle this year in a State whicf
generally has been pretty strongly Re-
publican.
X X
5 The drys give indication that they
: are going back into politics again
F. Scott Mcbride. general superin'
tendent of the Anti-Saloon League
, has issued another blast. asserting
. that conditions in the country have
t become vastly worse since the repea