The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-01-03

await INDICATIONS OF what percentage
Of the jobholders stand hitched and
OF what political alliances he may
be able to make with other factions.
To date, the only Marion County
entry who already has strong dele
gate strength is E. Kirk Mckinney
the ex-HOLC director. Mr. McKin-
ney is an appointee Of United
States Senator Frederick VanNuys.
He is expected TO be more or less
amenable to the senior Senator
wishes, whether in battling for the
nomination or switching his dele
gate strength to some one the SEN
ator names if Mr.. Mckinney can
not win.
former head of the Indianapolis
Works Board, Mr.. Mckinney was
former Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan's
campaign manager and was the
VanNuys convention floor manager
when the senior Senator failed to
back the state administration
successful drive to nominate Senator
Sherman Minton.
Mr.. Mckinney had almost COM
plete control of the big Marion
County delegation and voted it, at
Senator VanNuys' direction, for the
Senate candidacy of Mayor Sullivan.
Mr.. McKinney's political foes have
criticized him sharply for his failure
TO let the Marion County delegation
climb on the Minton bandwagon at
the last minute.
His handling of the delegation.
they say. prevented Marion County
for some time from receiving its
share OF patronage plums and even
minor jobs from the state admins
tration.
Mr.. McKinney's retirement as
Hole director was marked by a
dinner in tribute to his efficiency
record as head of that agency. 1t
was tremendous outpouring and
an impressive display of strength,
although opponents insisted it was
packed" by his lieutenants.
VanNuys Opposed to Greenlee
They also accuse him or his lieu
blunder in reported failure to in
vite two VanNuys appointees of po-
litical significance These two were
Will II. Smith, collector of internal
revenue, and Wray Fleming, GUS
toms collector.
Neither attended although other
Federal agency executives took a
prominent part at the banquet
stressing Mr.. McKinney's HOLC
record.
Mr.. Townsends strength admit
tedly lies in his appeal to the farm
groups. His political foes say there
is a sharp division against him
among the powers OF the Indiana
Farm Bureau that may hurt bis
chances.
Consider Milk Ruling
In calculating Mr.. Townsend's
chances, politicians are considering
what political benefits or repercus-
sions he may expect from the highly
controversial milk situation in In
diana. He Is chairman of the State
Milk Control Board which recently
granted a price increase to pro-
ducers that is expected to react to
his advantage among the farmers.
However, the board more recently
granted the milk distributors an in
crease which has drawn sharp con-
sumner protest. Regardless of wheth-
er Mr.. Townsend was or. was not
responsible for the increases, his
political future may be affected by
them in one way or another.
Although by no means TO the de-
gree that Mr.. Greenlee possesses it
Mr.. Townsend also has some
strength within the state admins
tration ranks. The powerful anti
Greenlee faction within the admins.
tration may get behind the Lieuten-
ant Governor.
Mckinney Is VanNuys Man
Mr.. Townsend's formal announce
ment for Governor is expected al
the Jackson Day dinner Jan. il
his home town of Marion.
Diagnosis of the state politica
situation on the Democratic side il
complicated by inseparable Fedora
angles.
Senator VanNuys has been open.
ly antagonistic to the state admin.
istration, although intimating il
several statements that his animos.
ity was more toward rdr. Greenlet
and his political methods thar
toward the Governor.
Truce Reported at Farley
The senior Senator came bach
from Washington last spring arc
loosed an ultimatum on the pack.
ing" of state conventions in favor
of one candidate. He remembered
the convention which defeated hi!
candidate, Mayor Sullivan.
Calling on what he termed "olC
line Democrats" to insist on having
more of voice in party affairs
Senator VanNuys intimated h,
would build an organization i
+ necessary to thwart another such
attempt by the state adminiStra'
ton next June.
At tho French Lick Democratic
Editorial Association convention las
summer. the Senator reiterated hi
intention to fight any candidat,
whose strength depended on con
vention packed" with job holder,
or their friends.
He, Senator Minton, Gov. McNut
and State Chairman Omer Stoke,
Jackson had conference from
which there was little definite in
formation Forthcoming. 1t was re.
ported a truce was effected.
Overture to Senator?
Now some political observers ar,
interpreting Mr.. Greenlee's disris
sal as executive secretary as al
overture by the Governor to Sen
ator VanNuvS. If things wer.