The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-11-02
G. 0. P. VICTORY
IN KENTUCKY
IS POSS|B|L|TY
Democratic Split May Pave
Way for Triumph by
Republicans.
STATE VOTES TUESDAY
Prestige of Roosevelt Is
Involved in Result
of BaIIoting.
BY LYLE C. WILSON


LOUISVILLE, KY, Nov. 2.-The
Kentucky Democrats are split wide
open three days before an election
in which the voters are to choose a
state ticket from Governor down
and fill one vacancy in the national
House of Representatives
The Democratic candidate for the
House is unopposed, situation
comforting to party leaders con-
fronted with a bolt of SO far un-
determined proportions. But what
ever the effect of the Democratic
split on next Tuesdays returns
there no longer is any doubt that
the split is a real one with Gov
Ruby Laffoon as its leader.
Gov. Laffoon is known nationally
for his signature on the commits
sions of Kentucky colonies ard ad-
mirals of the Green River fleet. He
has just asked voters to bolt the
candidacy of A. B. (Happy) Chan
dler, an alumnus of Transyvania
and Harvard Colleges and the DEM
ocratic nominee for Governor.
Chandler is Lieutenant Governor
now. He was elected with Gov. Laf-
foon four years ago.
Roosevelt Prestige at Stake
Gov. Laffoon is Democrat, too;
Democratic national committeeman
for his state. A considerable bit of
Roosevelt Administration prestige is
involved in this peculiar Kentucky
campaign in which the Democratic
Governor has bolted the Democratic
nominee to succeed him.
The Republican nominee for Gov
ernor is State Circuit Judge King
Swope of the Lexington Kings and
Swopes, families of mark and dis
tinction hereabouts. Both Judge
Swope and Mr.. Chandler are from
the b.de grass country of central
Kentucky. They would have been
leading comparatively united armies
against each other but for a series
of untoward events which began last
winter when President Roosevelt
was projected into Kentucky state
politics with an impact which still
echoes from the hastings.
Gov. Laffoon and his associates
had decided to nominate Thomas S.
Rhea of the state highway COM
mission to succeed to the Kentucky
White House at Frankfort. The
nomination was to be achieved at a
state nominating convention where
Gov. Laffoon was reasonably certain
Mr.. Rhea's candidacy would prevail.
Senator Alben w. Barley and some
others of power in Kentucky politics
preferred a primary vote selection
of nominees.
Convention System Chosen
When the state central commit
tee met last winter to decide
whether nomination should be by
convention or primary vote, the
Senator stepped to the rostrum
with letter signed by President
Roosevelt urging that the people
should always be given the widest
possible voice in the choice of their
nominee for elective office.
Despite that bold hint, the state
committee decided to choose can
didates by the conversion system.
Soon afterword, Gov. Laffoon left
for Washington to talk work-relief
funds.
Up to that point, Mr.. Chandler
was known principally as the man
with smile, gift for grooming,
and as a statesman of imagination
and considerable daring. During a
previous period as acting Governor
ne had received some Eastern no
tice by comforting Kentucky COL
onelcy, with all perquisites, upon
Louis McHenry Howe, who is Mr..
Roosevelt's principal secretary, and
upon Postmaster General James A.
Farley.
Legislature Summoned
But when Gov. Laffoon went to
Washington, Mr.. Chandler had
more important business. He sum-
moned the state Legislature to con-
vene for the purpose of enacting
the compulsory primary law for
objective which al
ready had the advantage of White
House favor and which might &C
complish much for Happy" Chan
dler.
Gov. Laffoon was in the Senate
gallery listening to the late Sena-
tor Huey P. Long when the word
reached him. Hurrying back to
Frankfort, he sought to prevent the
meeting, but the Chandler call was
held valid. Kentucky got its pri-
mary law with last-minute
amendment from the Lafoon
forces calling for runoff.
On primary day Gov. Lafoons
friend. Thomas S. Rhea, was first,
and Chandler second, something
more than $4,000 votes separating
the two. Under the Laffoon amend
ment a runoff was compulsory and
Chandler won by some 80, 900 votes.
Gov. Laffoon. Mr.. Rhea and their
associates could join Mr.. Chandler,