The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-08-16
DEMOCRATSLAY
PLANS TO BACK
D0NAHEY FIGHT
Leaders Voice Hope That
Nominee Will Stand
for New Deal.
BY KENNETH WATSON
Times special Writer

ZINES -peclaA NritFr
WASHINGTON. Aug. Is Demo-
cratic party leaders planned today
10 line the administration solidly
behind former Governor V. G. Doua-
hey. winner in a bitter three-cor-
nered Ohio primary contest. TO de-
feat Republican Senator d. Fess in
November.
D0nahey dramatically upset the
Roosevelt administration plan to
have Representative Charles West
named as New Deal defender IN
this important senatorial test. de-
feating both West and Governor
George White. White was Endorsed
By Newton d. Baker. former secre-
tary Of war. ". B. Gongwer. Cleve-
lands Democratic boss, and other
prominent Democrats
President Roosevelt did not speak
officially in the Ohio primary cam
paign. but IL was known over the
state that he attempted to take
White out OF the race because Of
preference for West.
Nominee Is Vote Getter
And while DOnahey in his an
nOuncement Of candidacy did not
specify he would support the New
Deal. his victory Is credited here
more 10 resentment against alleged
interference by the administration
in state affairs than 10 voters op-
position 10 the Roosevelt policies.
DOnahey, thrice elected Governor,
IS known as a great vOter-getter,
and later in the campaign he an
nounced himself 100 per cent" for
the New Deal
His victory. however. was a bitter
blow TO administration advisers,
headed by Senator Robert J. Bulk
ley and former Governor James NJ.
Cox. who told the President that
young Representative West would
be an ideal candidate.
Meanwhile. Senator Fess. old
guard Republican and most out
spoken New Deal foe. even more
decisively won over four opponents.
DOnahey. who will have the task
Of trying TO unSeat Senator Fess,
jumped into politics in 1900 when
West was a schoolbOy. His first
office was that Of township clerk.
In 1912. he was elected state auditor.
where his strict accounting methods
gained for him the sobriauet
Honest Vic" II was while auditor
that the famous baked potato" in
cident took place which projected
him into his first gubernatoriaI race.
PubIici1ed a Potato
A common pleas court Judge had
turned in an itemized expense &C
count which included a thirty-five-
cent potato. Donahey promptly
rejected the item and saw that the
newspapers learned of il. The pub
hcity gained by this incident was
followed by other economy prac-
ticeS. which were largely inStru-
mental in landing Donahey the
GOvernorship in 1922. He. has a
large family and always cam
paigned in a small automobile.
After two successive reflections
he retired from active politics six
years ago until this year.
One of the things which undoubt-
edly led the administration to
quietly support Representative West
was DOnahey's failure, in an
nouncing his candidacy. to indorse
the New Deal. In his mere state
ment he said. I believe in the
honesty and sincerity Of President
Franklin d. Roosevelt. His record
breaking popular vote was a man
date from the people to do some
thing to relieve a chaotic condi-
ton"
His announcement was regarded
as "evaSive" by administration lead
ers.