The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-13
TAGGART BENDS THE KNEE.


Former Mayor Thomas Taggart held an
other conference yesterday with Demo-
cratic City Chairman James l.. Reach, as
the Journal indicated he would do, and as
a result of the confab Mr.. Taggart an
nounced last evening before departing for
French Lick that he will return to the city
next Tuesday to spend three or four weeks
in active campaign work for the Demo-
cratic city ticket. This second conference
and announcement. following hard on the
heels of the meeting of the two men
Wednesday afternoon, confirms the report
that the new boss. Reach, has issued or
ders to the late boss, Taggart that he
must be good if he hopes to remain ON the
Democratic national committee, and that
the former boss has decided to obey orders,
ostensibly at least.
The relation of the new and old boss in
the local Democratic ranks is furnishing
material for a great amount of gossip
among both Republicans and Democrats,
and it is freely predicted from both
sources that the two will not work in har-
mony until the close of the campaign. de-
spite the club which Reach holds over Mr..
Taggarts devoted head. Mr.. Taggart long
since earned the appellation of IDLY
Tom through his manipulations in local
politics. and IL is intimated that he is
quite as "oily" as ever, even IL he has
been temporarily butted out of the leader
snip Dy MS FORMER lieutenant, Reach. 1t is
limited that while he may affect to be good
and work for the Democratic ticket during
the early part of the campaign, he really
has his fingers crossed all the time and at
the end, when the critical moment for de-
hvering votes comes, he will give Reach a
lesson In that ancient game known as
the double cross" No one ssinsays the
fact that Mr.. Taggart controls hundreds OF
votes In the city OF Indianapolis that he
can deliver Just where and to whom he
chooses No one knows this better than
thing I'm his power to force Taggart to de-
liver them to him for his candidate, Holtz-
man.
HAS NOTHING TO GAIN.
1t is pointed out, however, that Taggart
has nothing to gain and everything to lose
in the election of Holtzman, for such a re-
suit would mean the absolute enthronement
of Reach as boss and dictator of the Dem
ocratic party, a position from which it
would be impossible to dislodge hin. his
luck holding, for fully as long as Taggart
himself occupied that enviable place. Shorn
of his power in Indianapolis Taggart would
have no influence in the State and, hence.
would undoubtedly lose his position on the
national committee and fail of attaining the
height of his ambition-the Democratic ma
tional chairmanship. If HOltzman should
be elected IL would not rebound TO the credit
of Taggart. Reach would reap all the tam
gibIe and intangible rewards and glory for
such success.
On the other hand il HOFFMAN should be
defeated. and Taggart had a hand in thai
defeat, IL would be a decided victory for
him and would be the first long stride to-
ward his regaining the control of the party.
Reach as a defeated and discredited boss
would then be comparatively easy of de-
thronement and Taggart would come into his
own again. He would remain on the nation
al committee and the display of his power
I'm Indianapolis and Indiana, as well as
the new evidence OF his skill as a master
OF the art of politics. would be the strong
est argument for his election as national
chairman.
TAGGART'S AMBITION.
And Mr.. Taggart wants TO be Democratic
national chairman. In street parlance. ne
wants IL so bad he can taste il. He re-
Gently spoke of the position as an honor
second only in Importance TO the presiden-
tial nomination and ne is pulling every
wire TO secure the job which James *.
Jones is ready to ~reiinquish. He has just
returned from Chicago where he happened
to meet" several members of the national
committee. and where he made the most OF
the chance meeting. He says he Is not
"A candidate for the craftsmanship. but would
accept IL il rendered Ia him. That was
his familiar attitude when he was "A candi-
ination In this city. and those who know
MIR. Taggart know thai means he is leav-
ing no stone unturned Ia secure IL.
one OF the stones I'm his way Is Boss James
l.. Reach. behind whom is hiding John II
Wilson with his aspirations toward Tag
CARTS berth on the national committee, and
Taggart expects to oyerturn that stone in