The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-28

TAGGART'S SWAY is OVER
"ANTIS" STRONG AND HOTLY DE-
MAND FAIR TREATMENT.
Almost n General Revolt I'm Demo-
cratic Lines Against Old Regime
MANY Malcontents.

Should Joseph E. Bell become candidate
for mayor before the Democratic conven-
ton James l.. Keach will also be a candi-
date. This Is not according to the plans OF
the Taggart machine, of which Mr.. Reach
has been an important piece. but it is ac-
cording to the plans of Reach. Mr.. Reach
is a rather eccentric sort of politician who
has a large following in the Democratic
ranks, and he has been thought of a
candidate for mayor for at least two years.
Being intractable, the Taggart machine
has not pushed him. Mr.. Reach, it is
said by some of his friends. thinks, like
good many other machine Demo-
Gratis, that Mr. Taggart Is exploded as a
magical leader and that his domination of
city politics bodies no good for the party.
His friends are. consequently. announcing
that he will give Bell a fight If the ma
chine tries to dictate his nomination.
AS a matter Of fact. there is almost a
general revolt in the Democratic lines
against the burden of the Taggart machine
Those who have regarded the career of the
party for a number of years have reached
the conclusion that Taggart and his friends
got everything except the places on the
county ticket when there was no hope of
election. 1t is related that last year when
it was decided to swing the machine in be-
hind Bell as a candidate for mayor that
Keach and one or two others threatened
revolt and Bell was quickly withdrawn
even after he had formally announced him.
self as a candidate. Keach's friends say
he does not want the nomination and does
not want the office. If elected. but he is so
-
would do everything to prevent it. Keach's
friends say the Taggart crowd is loath to
let go it's hold on the party machinery and
that the only way to break its grip is for
him to head an anti-machine movement.
Said one of them
AGAINST TAGGART
There is, so far as 1 know, no purpose
to repudiate Taggart, but there is a purpose
to take the mastery of the party from
him. His wonderful power of organization
is limited to occasions when he himself
was at stake, and then organization was
made by men like Keach. Polster, John
Christian, z. NJ. Johnson and others who
were personally strong. In 1900 and 1902
he has been effectless a leader or or
ganizer. In 1901 he made futile effort to
dictate who his successor should be and
the vote that was polled for Moore. who
opposed Charles Mcguire In the primaries.
indicated the opposition TO his dictation.
That element is stronger now than ever.
We want a new deal all around-the same
kind Taggart asked and got in 1886 when
he first entered politics. There is another
generation in politics now and ii cannot be
cajoled with promises nor blinded by eulo-
gies about oily Toms greatness"
A friend of w. f. Moore said yesterday
that he would be a candidate again unless
the Democrats selected some one besides
Bell Moore is not for Reach because he
remembers how Reach bought and adver-
tised Moore's brewery tickets in the last
city nominating campaign. Moore. IT is be-
lieyed feels that with two candidates like
Keach fighting there is good chance for
him to slip in and get the plum. Moore re-
ceiyed over 1000 votes out of IL, 600 in the
last nominating primaries.
The indications in the Democratic camu
all point to a fierce struggle to oust the
Taggart crowd. Disinterested Democrats
saw that Reach realizes that the "antis
are the strongest and that he wants them
TO have some one to concentrate on and
will hold himself as candidate until some
one satisfactory to all the "antis" may Re
found But that he will oppose Bell ii nc
one else does is conceded TO be fact