Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 November 1920 — REPUBLICANS RENEW FACTIONAL BATTLES [ARTICLE]

REPUBLICANS RENEW FACTIONAL BATTLES

Goodrich-McCray Break Presages Strife for Organization Control. Indianapolis, Nov. 15. —Indications that the Republican party, hampered by an unweildly majority in the. state, has revived the bitter factional strife that waged prior to the, primary last spring is apparent on all sides. The fight is between Senator

James E. Watson, reinforced by Governor-elect Warren T. McCray, and Governor James P. Goodrich for control of the Republican organization. Governor Goodrich feels that Inasmuch as his tax law was one of the main issues in the campaign and he believes was indorsed by an overwhelming deluge of votes that his administration has been O. K.'d and that therefore he is in a position to dictate the policies of the organization. z * Watson Still Ambitious Watson has not forgotten that he came very near the capturing the organization last spring and now, backed up by the victorious McCray, he is centering his efforts on taking over the party machine In toto. The position of Senator Harry S. New, who will come up for re-elec-tion in two years and who is the most vitally concerned of all in the organization is preculiar, to say the least. New, who is given credit for being an astute politician, has not shown his hand in the factional strife so far, maintaining the same neutral attitude he took last spring. Political observers, however, do not believe that New will look with favor on any proposition that will make his candidacy, amenable to any organization controlled by his colleague, Senatpr Watson. On the other hand, it is pointed out, it is doubtful if he has any ambition to run under the flag of Goodrichism. Goodrich and McCray Break Although reports have been afloat ever since the election that the Wat-son-McCray forces would try again for party control, things did not come to a head until the governorelect and Goodrich broke over the re-appointment of Philip Zoercher on the state board of tax commissioners. It is recalled by those who were familiar with the fight last spring that Watson ’would %ave ousted E. M. Wasmuth, a Goodrich man, from the state chairmanship if McCray had not weakened at the last moment. Between them the senator and McCray controlled enough districts to have controlled the selection of a new chairman, but at the crucial moment McCray got “cold feet” and left Watson with nothing to do but surrender with the best grace he could summon. McCray went to victory under the

Goodrich banner, but It was appar ent all along that their political intimacy was' boro of expediency and not for any desire for personal friendship. Governor Flouts McCray At the first opportunity Goodrich showed his hand by flouting the gov-ernor-elect in naming Zoercher on the tax board. McCray alleges he was “double-crossed” and vowa. he will oust Zoercher at the first opportunity. McCray will, after he assumes office the first of the year s have a powerful weight In any organization battle, but he is not the politician that Goodrich Is. The governor's ability tQ make adroit political moves is not questioned and that one attribute makes him a formidable figure in the fight that he has precipitated. •