The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-27
THE "PUsH. ACTIVE.
Treachery of the Taggart Crowd
Makes 1t ReyenGefuI

y
There is widespread dissension in the
Marion county Democracy, particularly that
part of it known until last spring as the
silver push,' of which John j. Rockford
was the king. The trouble is assuming pro-
portions that are alarming to the Taggart
ring. 1t dates back to the county conVen-
ton and the reorganization of the county
committee last spring. John j. Rockford
had been chairman since 1896. In that year
he conducted the Bryan campaign in Ma
rion county, Last spring Mr.. Rockford as
pired to the nomination for prosecuting at
torney. He was anxious to have Edward
w. Little, a member of the Council, chosen
county chairman. Taggart wanted to die
tate to Rockford as to how the convention
should be organized, the management of
the primaries and the selection of the
chairman. Taggart was already soured on
Little and wanted to make Joe" Bell chair
man, and he wanted also to name the
county ticket against which Rockford and
his friends most strenuously objected, fore
seeing that the Democratic Mutual Aid
Society of Marion County," limited, known
as the '"Taggart Mutuals,' for short, would
get all the good places. They charged that
Taggart would attempt to unload the
leeches. that had been draining the public
so long, on the county ticket. The fight was
bitter and prolonged. Rockford developed
strength that surprised the "Taggart
Mutuals' and overtures were made, in
which he was offered the place he wanted
on the ticket, providing he would stop fight
ing to prevent the ''Taggart Mutuals' get
ting all the other places and the county
organization Rockford refused. His organ
ization continued to grow in strength and
Importance Associated with him were Po-
lice Judge Cox, John M. Mahoney, president
of the Council; Edward w. Little, another
member of the Council; August Tamm,
deputy city clerk and most of the candi-
dates Secret meetings were held.
Suddenly IL was discovered that the Tag
CART Mutuals'' were getting inside facts
concerning the organization. Secrets were
being betrayed: About this time, after a
duly reported to Taggart, President
Mahoney dropped out of the Rockford or
ganization. He was at the Enterprise Hotel
meeting. Possessed Of the secret plans Of
the push the ''mutuals' were in a good
position to demoralize them. Then the DEM
ocratic organs were placed in possession Of
the secrets that had been betrayed and a
most bitter and vicious attack was made on
Rockford, who was charged with corruption
ford fell i'll two or three days before the
| convention. His forces became demoralized.
| The push" was routed by the "mutualS"
| in the continuous convention that was held
| on three separate days in as many weeks.
AT that time the push knew thoroughly
! we'll that there had been treachery at work
and that their secrets had been betrayed,
| but it was not until last week that they
| learned the man who walked over to the
enemy was prominent member, perhaps
| the most prominent-Of the Council. Since
| these facts have become known the push
war psen ever ape nc hey %
| nominations, has been even more bitterly
enraged and many who were disposed to
| simply scratch the ticket themselves have
entered
| fight.
They are learning additional facts con-
| corning the candidates and the means by
| which they helped down the push.
Charles Mcguire asserted before the con-
| vension that if Rockford was nominated and
| succeeded in putting his ticket through he
| would not vote for it. Frank E. Wolcott,
| ex-councilman ana now candidate for the
| legislature. declared at a meeting of one
| hundred in his precinct that he would vote
| the Republican ticket If Rockford We're
! nominated and succeeded in reorganizing
the county committee; The word went
| and nominated ticket the Sentinel would
refuse to support it. This. of course, fright
| ened the candidates who really wanted to
| see Rockford succeed, who wanted to see
| the "Taggart Mutuals'' knocked out, but
| who feared they would not have fighting
| chance if the party organ was against
| them.
Rochford's friends are complaining be-
cause he has been persistently and steadily
| ignored ever since the convention, although
| Taggart met him in public and ostenta-
| tiously shook hands with him in order that
| every one might know the Ratchet had been
! buried. why" Rochfords friends are
| asking, ''has he not been invited to speak,
| They assert that he is a good campaigner
| better than Leon O. Bailey, for instance,
as he never published one speech and deliv-
| cred another. The push" has spotted a
| large number of gold bugs on the ticket of
| the "mutuals." They are Charles Mcguire.
| candidate for clerk; Peter Sindlinger, can
| didate for treasurer: Eudorus NJ. Johnson,
! candidate for auditor. and Dudley NJ. Gull
| Yer. candidate for coroner. They assert
| that besides Joseph +. Bell, chairman of
/ the '.Taggart Mutual county committee be-
| ing a gold Democrat this Is true of four
] teen members of the executive committee.
| Neither Charles Polster nor Fred Kissel
| 1t is asserted, would so near the county