The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-16
PARKER'S INDIANA CANVASS.
WORK AMONG THE NEGROES AND
THE BUSINESS MEN.
Efforts to Capture the CoIored Vote in the
Principal Cities-A Quiet Personal
Canvas Among Business Men--Re.
pllblieans Confident OF the State.

Canvass Among Business Men-Re.
publicans Confident OF the State.
INprANApoLIs Oct. 15.--Will Tom Tag
eart be able to carry his State for Judge
Parker2 This is a question which his
announced intention Of coming here has
suggested and it is being asked with diff
ferent degrees of interest by Democrats
and Republicans.
The latter are curious to know how the
Democratic national chairman expects to
get the Free Silver malcontents into line
and also from what source he expects to
get a ajority to overcome the pronounced
Republican vote which Indiana has given
at the last five elections and which they
construe to mean that the State 60 long
rs present industrial conditions continue,
is safely for the Republican party.
The Republican managers have received
positive information that plans have been
formed to capture the colored vote in the
principal cities Of the State and they now
know that a campaign with this end in
view is in progress in Indianapolis, Evans
vile. Terre Haute, Fort Wayne New AL
bany, South Bend and other cities.
Every inducement is being offered to
leading negroes to ally themselves with
the Democratic party, and in some in
stances the inducements have proved ire
sistible and several prominent colored
men are now working for the Democratic
national ticket 1t has been learned that
some Of these converts at least have been
hired to do missionary work for the party
and that they are drawing weekly salaries.
The knowledge OF this fact has placed
them under the suspicion OF their race and
they are being opposed with more earnest
ness than If they had always been Demo-
Gratis.
The Democratic managers are looking
upon this phase Of the campaign with a
good deal of confidence. Mr.. Taggsrt has
always been popular with the colored peo-
pie of this city and there is no denying
the fact that he has polled more colored
votes in his canvasses for Mayor than
any other Democrat has ever been able to
command.
He has dealt literally with the race after
elections and much Of the prejudice that
was engenderel against him among the
Irish and German voters during his last term
as Mayor was due to the fact that he APP
pointed so many negroes to offices under
the city government. Outside Of ths city,
however, he is practically unknown to the
colored people CT the State and it is not
believed, ev. by Democrats that the cam
pagn for negro votes will result in any
considerable gains. In fact, the Republ-
cans believe that the charm about Taggart
exists for Taggart alone and that il will
be impossible to bring about the same re-
suits for another candidate that he could
achieve for himself were he a candidate.
One of the reasons why Taggart il COM
ing home to give some person al attention to
the campaign, it ia said is the we'll known
attitude Of the Free Silver men toward the
ticket and the belief that there will have
to be heart to heart talks with their leaders
before they can be induced TO give hearty
fealty to the national candidate.
Mr.. Taggart was Gold Democrat prior
to the Chicago convention but came to the
support of Bryan. like many other Demo-
Gratis, for the sake merely Of regularity.
He was a member Of the State central COM
mttee at the time and was under suspicion
Of the Free Silver leaders; so much 30, in
fact, that there was suggestion to increase
the Congress committee in this district.
he purpose being to have men associated
with him watch his movements. This
suggestion however was not carried out
and Taggart managed the Congress cam
paign,
Thefact that re was a gold man is being
reca lied and his advocacy CT the nomination
# Ju6ge Parker is regarded as rrcof that
lie was Fever thoroughly in eor, PSI in his
support of BRYAN. 1t is now proposed to
lave conferences WITH the Free Silver
I1en and Taggart will be present TO col fer
with tf'n.
The Republican managers believe that
they have made substantial progress
.dIring the past week and that the cam
raign wears a better aspect for them than
at any time since the nomination OF Par
ker II is becoming more and more APP
parent every day that the party is united
on the State and national tickets and that
tho only los from the votes of two and four
wears ago will be from the return OF the
gold Democrats to their former party
allegiance, and careful estimates of their
strength have enabled the Republicans
10 figure exactly what the loss will be.
They have arrived at the conclusion from
the results of the State poll that the gold
Democratic vote has been greatly over
estimated and that at no time has 1t ex-
teoded 5000 in the State. Palmer and
Duckner pol!ed less than $500 votes in the
State in 1895 and their vote was supposed
to represent about one-half Of the disaf-
fected Democrats.
The Republican majorities. then, did not
come 30 much from Democrats as from
The increased vote which the issue of free
silver brought to the front, say the Re-
publican leaders, and they are confident
that not all of these votes will be cast for
Parker
c. A. Oaks and w. c. Sebring. personal
friends of Judge Parker, are making can
vass Of the State that is giving the Repub-
leans some concern. They are both well
appearing New Workers., very genial and
comPenionable, and are devoting their
lime exclusively to business men in the
cities.
They go into city with letters from
Chairman Taggart and other Influential
Democrats and are thus made acquainted
with business men OF Democratic faith.
They are then introduced to Republican
business men and in time are invited TO
social gatherings and thus meet the best
elements Of tho communities at home.
They do not press the subject Of Judge
FnFta l.,,N at.,r