The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-18
Now that He Has Defeated Taggart Ii
Is wondered whether He VIII Be
Able to Retain Control.
TAGGART RoUT UNEXPECTED
NOW, HOWEVER, THE BURDEN IS
TRANSFERRED TO POTATO KING.
Some Speculation as to What VIII Be-
come Of the Bryan Element Of
the Party.

James Lawrence Reach, the new boss of
the Indianapolis Democrats, is to-day the
most conspicuous Democrat in Indiana,
with the possible exception Of National
Committeeman Thomas Taggart. The two
names go together. Keach's greatness is
in his defeat of Tasgart; Taggart's con-
spicuity just now Is that he was defeated
by Reach. What does 1t all mean?
Local Democrats supported Keach in his
Ajax defying the lightning" act on the
theory of a new deal" Taggart had ruled
as the leader for nearly all of seventeen
years. Once only did he not. That was in
1885, when his leadership was absent and
the lack of it demoralizing. Until Thurs
days Waterloo his word stood with the
Democrats of the country. He was a prom
ising candidate for national chairman, a
man whose astuteness and political sa-
gacity had won him hosts of friends
throughout the country and who was re-
garded as a man Ito tie to-" His victory
as state chairman in 1892, when Cleveland
was last elected. his three successful races
for mayor Of Indianapolis, his heretofore
undisputed control of the city and state
machines-all tended to bring to him the
respect and confidence that comes to a
successful man.
KEACHS FIGHT.
When Reach began his fight he was well
understood. He declined to ask Tagsart' s
permission to seek office. This was the
first notice Taggart had of Keach's inten-
tion. ISeach declared for new men and
fair play. This coming from the chief
lieutenant of Taggart, from the man whose
judgment was regarded with almost as
great confidence as Taggart himself, de-
fined the struggle from the start That
was the time for Taggart to evade fight
1t was notice to HIN to keep his hands off.
Had he done so the struggle between Reach
and the machine would have been different
Many things were possible and Keach
might have been defeated without hard
work. Taggart, national committeeman
and busy at French Lick. could have de-
clined to interfere. The events of the past
few weeks seem to make clear that Tag
CART did want to pursue such course
but in some representation is the
first law of nature-he got into the fight
at a late hour and met what few expected
defeat. The argument of the Keach fac
tion throughout was that they would give
Taggart loyal support for his higher am
bitions-national chairman. United States
senator or Governor-but they would not
wholly within the local party. So that
Taggart, either here or by long distance
telephone. answered their defiance His
internal affairs OF the local Democrats
What was the result?
HOW TAGGART LOST.
Taggart lost. Keachs victory may be
ephemeral; it may be incomplete But the
fact remains that Taggart lost control OF
the Democratic organization of Indianap.
oils; was defeated in his own ward by q
German saloon keeper. who carried ten OF
the fifteen precincts; was defeated in hi.
own precinct by a former sheriff who was
supposed to have been long In the scrar
pile of political has-beens. That Is no,
much to bring back to a state machine tha,
was in jeopardy last year and In 1900 anC
that is now menaced by a revolt in ths
State
Politicians of all parties have watched
the struggle with deep interest 1t mus
be confessed that few expected Taggart':
rout. But they spoke by the statistics
not by the knowledge that comes to a mar
as 1t came to Keach. Now that the "wiz
ard of the smile has been routed they ar,
prolix In explanations. One explanation
seems to fit the case better than any other
1t is the explanation that no man. whoever
he be- can do battle continuously and no
meet defeat. Seventeen years is a Ions
time to hold control. 1t is ample time K
develop a man equally sagacious, practica
and popular. Whether Reach will prov,
all these qualities is yet TO be determined
Reach is obstinate and aggressive III,
has little use for compromises and place,
no confidence in bargains with his enemies
Nothing has developed his character as al
organizer more than his work in preparin.
| for the primaries last Thursday He or
ganized personal city committee which
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