Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 April 1908 — AN INDEPENDENT VIEW. [ARTICLE]

AN INDEPENDENT VIEW.

The Indianapolis Daily Sun (independent In politics) has the following to say about Watson and the political outlook: The Republicans of Indiana are not unanimously • joyful over the candidate for governor chosen at Thursday’s convention. The Watson delegates are glad, and their followers are shouting. But a large and militant minority of the convention, and in the Republican party, is disappointed. They are good losers, these minority leaders, but they are uncertain when they consider November. W. L. Taylor and C. W. Miller have been saying, and their friends have been insisting, that the nomination of James E. Watson would be a fatal mistake to the party In the state. Yet James E. Watson is the nominee. Labor men -in the Republican party have sworn that they would oppose Mr. Watson's election. The Republican party, by its action in convention, has boldly called on these labor men to do their worst. This is one of the conditions which causes forebodings. 1 Mr. Watson is the nominee of the statehouse crowd and the state

central committee. Governor J. Frank Hanly's opposition to Wataon was considered a sham, worn at Mr. Watson’s personal request, in order to prevent the candidate from becoming enmeshed in Hanlyism, This was proved when the Hanly delegates went to Watson on the convention floor. Mr. Watson is nominated over the protest of organized labor. Mr. Watson is called on to make his race on local option by election with the county as a unit. This is in his own party considered a handicap. The Democrats have an advantage in this important issue. The Republicans are divided and rent asunder on the proposition. The Democrats acted with reason. The Republicans went further than the calm reason of the times demanded. The Democrats ask for home rule; for a fair expression in ward and township, of the local will. The Republican cry is for dictation by the county of a policy for each individual ward and township. It is not easy to see how Mr. Watson will be able to unite his party on the temperance question. It is not easy to see how he will rally the Republican workingmen to his cause. The labor men have denounced his record on labor issues. Even his Republican opponents have accused Mr. Watson bitterly of many sins. These opponents are sore to-day and they are strong politically. How are they to be placated? Mr. Watson’s election means new and further power to the state machine, which is more than ever hated and feared by the anti-Watson forces. All in all, it looks as if Mr. Watson’s election would mean the politican ruin of certain leading independent Republicans in Indiana. Also it appears that Mr. Watson’s defeat next November might be the “making” of certain distinguished and ambitious but now defeated Republican leaders. What will be the outcome? Friends of Thomas R. Marshall, Democratic nominee for governor, can see but one end, and that the triumph of the Democratic party in Indiana. Watson enters the campaign on the defensive even in his own party. Marshajj goes into the campaign with not a word spoken against him from any quarter and with all factions of his party united, solidly in his support.