The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-16
CASH FOR TAGGART.
Democrats Say He Secured $4,000
from Boss Croker.

W. e. Curtis, in Chicago Record.
/ met some Indiana Democrats on the
cars yesterday who were jubilant because
Tom Taggart, the genial mayor of Indian
apolis. and the Indiana member of the ma
tional Democratic committee, had touched
1.-The Tammany tiger for 1000 and was on
his way home with the cash in his grip"
This. they declared. made a Democratic
victory in Indiana certain and was equiva-
lent to the election Of Bryan. They were so
happy and confident that they believed hat
when they heard that Taggart had $4,000
"'plunks'' to distribute in Indiana the odds
in the betting would be reversed and people
would be offering A to 1 on Bryan instead of
Mckinley. and this is the tale they told:
"The Indiana Democrats, as a rule, are
party, and most of them, like Bill English,
have gone over to Mckinley. The state
committee has exhausted its funds and ap-
pealed in vain TO the Democratic national
committee in Chicago. The latter Is also
broke 1t takes all the solicitors can rake
up to a the printing bills, the expenses
of their spellbinders and Bryan's tour. and
they have sent every dollar they could
spare into Nebraska and South Dakota.
They have not given a cent TO any otter
State, and only sent it there because Bryan
commanded ii. He is bound to carry his
own State III he does not get an electoral
vote In another. and is particularly anxious
TO re-elect Pettigrew because he is such a
thorn in the flesh of the Republicans. Next
to beating Bryan the Republicans would
rather beat Pettigrew. He annoyS Nckln-
ley more than any man in public life, ana
they are bound that he shall not come back
to the Senate. For that reason Hanna and
Frye, the chairman Of the national Repub-
lean committee and the president of the
Senate, have gone out to South Dakota
loaded with cash and expect to return with
Pettigrew's hide hanging over the rail OF
their special car. Under these circum-
stances the national committee thought it
hest to give Pettigrew some financial as
sistance, but have refused II to every other
State.
ut has been given out" continued my
Indiana friends, that Croker would not
contribute a dollar to the national commit
tee and has rejected all applications for as
sistance on the ground that New York is
the most important State in the country
and he needs every dollar he can raise right
there. Nevertheless. the indian folk,
thinking there might be a good deal of
bluff in this, sent Tom Taggart to New
York to hold up Croker. Tom is a great
persuader. When he lets go his emotions
be can melt the heart of a stone, and he
shape. He has hurried home with the cash,
and from this time on the Republicans are
not in it in Indiana. Tom Taggart says
that Croker hasn't got a thing but money;
that he sleeps in a bed made of hundred
dollar bills and is going to blow in 500. 900
at Bryan reception next Tuesday evening.
Everybody else, however, is hard up, and
scarcely a day passes but what the chair
man of some committee from somewhere
comes around and tries TO hold him up, but
he is 'trun' down. Hence the Hoosiers are
proud OF Tom Taggart's persuasive pow
y -