The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-19
MR.. TAGGART ALARMED
HIS "SCARE-HEAD" INTERVIEW IN
THE DEMOCRATIC ORGAN.
of the Silver Men in Behalf
of Frank A. Maus-But the May
Has the Machine.

Mayor Taggart. in his fight for renomina-
ton, has found it necessary to come OUT
in double-leaded interview in the organ
of his party declaring that ever since the
nomination of Bryan at Chicago he 'has
stood squarely on the platform" He is
forced into this declaration, he says, by the
fact that newspapers about the country
have spoken Of him as the candidate of the
gold element of the local Democracy. Pos
sibly the newspapers about the country
go upon the theory, just as do the local sill
yer leaders, that actions and facts speak
with considerably more emphasis than
words. And if the outside newspapers know
the mayor well as do the local silver
ties, they would possibly be more emphat-
ically of this opinion. Those who know
him best are moro inclined to get their in
formation from his record than from his
Interview.
Here, as elsewhere last year, the tried and
Influential leaders of the Democracy were
for sound money and none was more de-
termined in this position up to the time of
the convention than Thomas Taggart, ex-
chairman of the state committee, mayor of
the city and one of the most influential
Democrats of the State. He was chairman
of the soundmoney executive committee,
carried the primaries of this county for
that principle and made a desperate fight
in the state convention. But the silver
sentiment in the party throughout the
state was too strong. Like the other lead
ers, he was turned down and his sound
money delegates were thrown out of the
convention and contesting delegation of
silverites seated. After the convention
Taggart remained friendly to both sides
quietly possible Since the election he
has had various appointments to make and
these have been almost invariably made
from the ranks of the Palmer and Buckner
adherents, While all those employees of the
city administration who took the, gold side
of the arguments have been permitted to
retain their places despite the clanor of the
silver howers that thew were boilers and
traitors and should be turned out
Now Mr.. Taggart is a candidate for re-
nomination for mayor and the same men
who succeeded in leading the party into
the Populist camp last year are opposing
him with Vigor and Vlrulence. Two months
ago they organized the Democratic Silver
League" and the activities of this organ
ization have been directed toward the de-
feat of Taggart for nomination. They have
held meetings each week and have de-
nounced Taggart as gold bug by
means of speeches, interviews, and printed
circulars. Taggart had the machine, the
old city committee being made up largely
of his personal friends, more than half of
whom had stood by the Palmer and Buck
ner ticket last year. AT first the silveriteS
directed their attention largely to denun-
citation of this committee and calling for a
new deal The chairman of this committee,
Captain ]. b. Curtis, had given an inter-
view after the election in which he eX
pressed satisfaction at the defeat of Bryan
and this interview was harped upon in
numerous circulars from the silver league.
The new deal was given them two weeks
ago with great suddenneSS. Captain Curtis
one day issued a call for organization prim-
aries the next evening and the silVerites
were all unprepared for it. A new appor-
ff.Nt,, ~ Of n fln cY,1
the only maps in existence We're blue prints
made in the office of the city engineer and
in the hands of the friends of the admins
tration. With this advantage they went in
and elected a new committee more strongly
tinged with the gold element than the old
one and w. w. Spencer, one of Taggart's
best friends was made chairman. Belev-
ing that the time TO strike was while the
enemy was demoralized. Mr.. Spencer at
once announced his appointment of pre-
cinct committeeman and issued the call for
the city convention. The silverites are still
without maps, but they have pulled them
selves together far enough TO get into pref
~ fair fighting trim. They have brought
out as a candidate against Taggart Frank
A Maus a wealthy retired brewer, and
have induced the Populists and silver Re
pubhcans to call their city conventions at
the same day as the Democratic gathering
with the threat that If the Democratic con-
vention nomniates Taggart these two ele-
ments will nominate free-silVer Democrat
and thus give the silYertes the opportunity
Of splitting up the Democratic strength
1t is conceded that the Democratic con-
vention win put a silver plank in its plat
form, but this does not satisfy the silver
howlers They want to know what is the
use of a gold bug candidate on a silver
platform and declare that if Taggart should
be reelected they would nave the same
spectacle over again of a Democratic adj
ministration manned by gold-standard adj
herents.
But for all this. the chances are largely
in favor of the nomination of Taggart. He
has the machine and ali the gold Demo-
Gratis as well as those leaders who stood
for gold at the start and then weakened
after the convention are friendly to him,
and the election of last November showed
that nearly half the Democrats of the city
are for gold. after being whipped thor
oughly the masses of the Democrats are
much more ready to listen TO reason than
they were a year ago, and the leaders
turned down so ANONYMOUSLY then are re-
gaining their influence
Killed Him.