The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-18
STATE G. 0. P.
LOATH TO FILL
PARTY OFFICE
Dorothy Cunningham Va
CanCy on National Com
mittee to Be Ignored.
1927 PRECEDENT CITED
Reluctance to Stir Feelings
Among Candidates Also
Vital Factor.
BY JAMES DOSS
Times Staf Writer


The Republican State Committee
tentatively has decided against
making a nomination for the ma
tional committee vacancy caused by
the recent death Of Miss Dorothy
Cunningham. it was learned today
The committee is said TO be actu-
ated by precedent and the desire TO
avoid causing any hard feeling
among the numerous candidates for
the honor. in deciding on a lassie7
fare policy.
There are two outstanding women
candidates for the place. although
as one member Of the committee put
It, almost every one of the distric;
vice chairmen would like to have it.
if she felt she could afford it."
Post an Expensive One
He referred to the expense at
tendant to the office. The members
of the national committee have to
pay their own expenses and the fire.
quent trips necessary for get-tO-
getherS on policy can mount into a
healthy item in the course Of a
year.
The leading prospects for sue
cessor to Miss Cunningham are Mrs
Grace Banta Reynolds, wife of a
Cambridge City banker. and Mrs
Beryl Holland, state vice chairman.
Others reported somewhat covet-
Gus of the position are Mrs. Eleanor
Snodgrass. Nashville. and Mrs. Clara
Barr Winamac. Ninth and Second
district vice chairmen. respectively.
Watson Support Claimed
Mrs. Reynolds. former state
treasurer. is reported to have the
backing of that faction in the party
dominated by former Senator James
E. Watson and is assumed to have
the inside track. inasmuch as the
Watson groups influence is in the
aScendency at the moment.
A definite decision on a nomina-
ton may be made after the
executive committee of the national
committee meets Sept. 25.
However, the state committee can
be guided by precedent in neglect
ing to fill Miss Cunningham place
Healing Vacancy Recalled
Joseph B. Healing, indianapolis,
former national committeeman,
died in the fall of 1927 preceding the
1928 national convention at Kansas
City. which nominated Herbert Hoo
yer for President.
At the time of Mr. Healing S
death. there were a number of the
politically ambitious who could have
been considered anxious for the ma
tiOnal post
In fact, they were too numerous
to be mentioned, but the most prom
inent were NJ Burt Thurman. In
dianapOlis. later elected committee
man; former Gov James P. Good
rich Henry Marshall, Lafayette
publisher and the Col. House of
the Leslie Administration. and
Joseph Hutzel. Fit. Wayne patent
medicine king.
Instead of affrOnting any of these
leaders. the state committee merely
let things ride and not until the
following June. just before the con-
yention was a nomination made.
Goodrich Still Eyes Post
Ewing EmiSOn, VincenneS, veteran
state committee member. was
named and he was chosen because
it was known that he would not be
a candidate when the delegates met
to elect a committeeman.
It is quite probable that the same
policy will be pursued in the pres
ent vacancy and a nominee chosen
on the eve of the next national con-
ventiOn
Incidentally. the former Gov
Goodrich is reported still nursing
an ambition to represent Indiana
on the national committee, al
though he perSistently has denied
that he wants to Supplant George
Ball. the male incumbent.