The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-03
A SHOT At CROKERITES
EX-JUDGE cox PAYS RESPECTS TO
TAGGART-MORsS COMBINE.
Men in 1t No Longer Taken Seriously
by the Party, He
Says.

The story published yesterday of the eff
forts of certain Indiana Democrats to form
| a partnership with Richard Croker, of New
York, grand sachem of Tammany, created
no end Of excitement among the local silver
Democrats. Many of them, while not hav-
ing personal knowledge of such deal, gave
it immediate credence and were inclined
to denounce it in vehement language. In it
they saw an effort to repudiate Bryan and
the Chicago platform. Among the most
outspoken was Millard F. Cox, former GRIM
inal judge and q member of the ultra silver
forces over which John j. Rockford pre-
sided. Said Judge Cox:
THE Democratic party of Indiana wants
no alliance with richard Croker on his
terms. Those New York fellows sandbag
ged us two years ago and have since con-
unued to discredlt our national organization.
| II II is true that Croker has been in consul
tation recently with some of the leading
| boIterS who, in 1896, did everything in their
power to disrupt and destroy the Demo-
cratic party, nobody need wonder But it is
said that some other Democrats who, what
ever their private views may have been,
were supposed to be loyal in that year OF
storm and trouble, have joined hands with
Mr.. Croker to sidetrack Bryan and silver
Ihat is only another way OF saying that it
| lS their purpose to restore to positions of
power in the party the men who attempted
to stab it to the heart in 1896 and have since
shown no repentance for their perfdy. For
|
whose names are given do not own it. Nor
is their influence any longer of such
character as to make them important fac
tors in the partyS future. They are not
taken as seriously as they suppose they are.
While they are making desperate efforts to
remain in the public eye and are posing as
the whole thing, their antics make the
masses of the party sTnile-that is, those of
them that do not weep, for to the SYM
pathetic the sight borders on the pitiful.
so you say that Croker wanted young
Garter Harrison for President and the In
diana contingent proposed Mayor Taggart
Ior vice PRESIDENT, Which latter honor In
perspective the mayor felt obliged to de-
cline because legally ineig4 bic. Really, now,
are you sure that your whole article was
not prepared by your funny man? To Sug
gest to our mayor impossible second hddling
to young Mr.. Harrison-that is too much
altogether One of Mr.. TaggartS colored
admirers once proposed him for king of
the world and we were all ready to let it
go at that, for no question of ineligibility
on account of the place of birth could arise.
He is not responsible for being born abroad,
and the fact is not in the least discreditable
to him, but IT disqualifies him for President
or Vice President, to either of which places
he might otherwise honorably aspire 1t is
high time that something substantial and
equal to his abilities should be offered Mr..
Taggart in recognition of the great sacri-
fees that he has made for the party, and
we resent any such vexatious playing upon
his feelings.
"And Mr.. Morss, the editor of our SEN
| tinel, was also hobnobbing with the great
Croker and considering plans to sidetrack
bryan ana silver, was ne! NOW what are
you really trying to do to Mr.. Morss? It is
not necessary for him to take advice from
Mr.. Croker, or anybody else, for that mat
ter. lie can accomplish things all by his
ownself You misjudge Mr.. Morss. File
runs our organ and controls our political
destinies. He Smashes rings deteSts
| States and has an utter adherence Of
BOSSES Even as late as last March his
paper Illuminated powerfully against John
Rockford and accused him of trying to be
Croker and of attempting to set up a slate
In our county convention. We don't want
any CrokerS in Marion county shouted the
Sentinel and at once served notice that it
would never-no, never-support any slate
ticket. but it did, Now would you have us
understand that Mr.. Morss, entertaining
these opinions of Croker and states, would
conspire with the awful New York man to
fix up a slate-and other things? You shat
ter our idols with too ruthless a hand and
we must protest If we cannot have Tag
CART for Vice President at least give us
chance at Morss for President. These men
do all of our thinking for us and attend
to all matters of political detail and we
shrink from the hardship of again attempt
ing to do these things for ourselves.
II believe you mentioned the names OF
some other persons who were present at
/ don't recall them just now, but it is no
matter. When the time comes speaking
seriously, we will settle our party affairs
in Indiana and settle them good and hard.
Somebody may be joted, but of course it
will not be such sterling and loyal, patriotic
and high minded, anti-boss, anti-machine,
anti-slate, anti-everything-bu t-ourselves
Democrats like the Hon. Thomas Taggart
and the no less Hon. Samuel e. Morss."