The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-24

If any Republicans are looking hopefully
TO to-morrow's Democratic convention in
the belief that it may possibly nominate
man they can support for mayor 1t would
be well for them to mediate a bit before
committing themselves and review the sit
uation.
Some years ago, and for good many
cratic party in Indianapolis were Thomas
Taggart, Sterling r. Holt and James l..
Reach. For their political purposes these
men cultivated the very worst elements
of municipal politics. Taggart did the
smiling and 'jollying' for the crowd, Holt
arranged the financial deals and Reach
looked after rounding up the boys" So
far as the work of organizing the bad ele-
ment of the city into compact political
following went, Reach was the man who
looked after details. This triumvirate was
intact until 1896. when Taggart, after vac
illating a long time. finally threw his for
tunes to the silver wing of the party and
sought a new financial connection through
Crawford Fairbanks. Reach and Holt and
most Of the old crew bided their time for
some years. until the opportunity present
ed itself to wrest the Democratic organiza-
ton from Taggart. which was accomplished
last spring.
At the head of the new organization
stands Reach, just as shrewd. just re-
sourceful and probably just as ambitious
for personal gain as ever. AS his right
hand assistant stands Polster. notorious as
the avowed leader Of the more lawless saloon
element of the local Democratic party. and
behind him stand Holt and certain finan-
cial influences that make for anything but
the popular welfare. By carefully
planned course of action, beginning with
the elevated tracks agitation more than
two years ago, Reach won the confidence
of some of the leading spirits of the Citi-
zens' League and shrewdly used that or
ganization first In the fight against Tag
CART and later in the effort to discredit the
Republican administration and ticket. He
led them to believe he would encourage the
nomination of a good man and played fast
and loose with them until 1t was no longer
possible to hide from them the fact that
he was using the organization they had
helped him to win for all it was worth in
an effort to nominate none other than
Johnny" Hoffman, whose record as pros
ecuting attorney is altogether too fresh to
inspire the confidence of members of the
league or any other thinking citizens.
That is the opportunity that is going to
be offered people ito vote for somebody
better than Bookwalter." With different
brand of beer promoted, Hoffman would,
in all probability. give just about such an
administration as Taggart gave-and there
is a very wide difference between the Tag
CART and Bookwalter administrations, all
in favor of the latter. The News has been
put in such a position that it will have to
support the nominee of the Democratic con-
vention, whoever he may be. but il the Cit
liens League clings to its original purposes
it will hardly be fooled a second time; and
the Republicans that have been led care
fully along the same channels will prob
ably awaken to the fact that support of
Hoffman would make for very much
worse government than the city has had
since Taggart was defeated.