Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-30
which q small coterie will boss affairs and
Taggart will be the errand boy.
What Indianians Saw


Taggart will be the errand boy.
What Indianians Say.
But his Indiana supporters won't be-
lieve that he can be Inundated in this
manner. The one whom 1 addressed made
the air SO sulphurous that had to wait
until it cleared. Then with the loyalty Of a
country politician, which is genuine and
sincere, and which, therefore, no New York
politician can appreciate, he said, Tom
Taggart's been elected chairman OF the
national democratic committee. Tom Tag
CARTS going to be chairman, DIN them
1t is a sublime confidence, but the situa-
ton does not warrant 1t. The big fund
about which much IS said, or the bundle,
as the Hoffman House crowd calls 1t, Will
be dsbursed. If ever raised, by the coterie
which is to control the campaign. Taggart
az l minated. will have something for In
diana, but 1t Is impossible not to appreciate
the humorous and sarcastic comments Of
the New York democrats on the idea OF q
hooser coming to their own state and
spending the money which they themselves
raised to carry that state.
Opening the Bundle"
Whether the bundle will be as big as
promised I don't profess to guess. Not
much of it will be distributed until October
This, also, is part of the higher strategy.
to go along quietly and then about a month
before election to have the full sinews of
war and go in and do up the republicans
None of the Hoffman House habitues have
warmed to this plan. but they are helpless
1t was rather cheering sight to see them
for there is nothing which makes human
nature so pleasing as anticipation. | no.
ticed many faces that | had not seen since
the campaign of 1892 There was nothing
for the owners Of these faces in 1896 or
1900 Now they have hopes. They COM
planned a little Of the lack of hospitality
,Nct 1,. ion, nnv
PEELED them to pay their own hotel bills
and bar accounts, but they expect to even
it all up in the October harvest. 1t was
apparent that they would really go out
and work with a very small amount of pro-
vender until October. l am not sure but
that this postpoing the opening of the bun
die till toward the close of the campaign has
more of the higher strategy in 1t than the
scheme to make out that there are two
republican tickets in the field, and that 1t
doesn't make much difference which is
chosen, except that perhaps the Parker
ticket is a shade the better.
Pledges FOR the Fund.
The pledges for the fund. 1 Judge from
the talk of the inner council, are still pretty
general. The contributors will advance just
enough to keep things going, and l even
heard that If August Belmont Is made
treasurer the rival traction group. of which
Thomas F. Ryan is the head, will insist on
disbursing its own contributions independ-
ent Of the national committee. But more
likely a working arrangement or modus vi
vendi will be made.
Some of Parker's friends are really very
resentful toward Mr.. Belmont. l was told
that he raised 5000 In the preliminary
fund, and then claimed the credit of what
was being done by Mr. Cleveland's friends.
1t is quite clear that he cannot be put en-
tirely in the background. The Belmonts are
not a retiring family, or a modest one
either In business or In politics. But since
the rivalry of the traction syndicateS is
business one. business considerations I'M
doubtedly will prevail In the end so that
they may not mutually destroy each other.
1t Is claimed now on behalf of one of them,
l don't know which, that Murphy and Tam
many have been brought into line for
Parker through this influence.
Another element in regard to the bundle
Is Mr. David B. Hill. While the mysterious
intimation always is given out that the
funds are to come from big financial in
terests, every one knows that Hills friends,
the brewers, are to put up share OF IT.
1t has been shown in previous campaigns
that Hill can get more from the brewers
than anybody else. and Mr.. Hill, like Mr..
Belmont is not modest when 1t comes to
claiming the recognition which is to be ac-
corded campaign funds. This is aside from
his hold on the political machine generally
All this is very interesting side light on
the open, yet 1t isn't exactly confined to the
cellar or the back rooms. Some of 1t can be
heard at the club where prominent demo-
Gratis gather, and some down town, right In
Wall street and lower Broadway
CHARLES NJ. PEPPER.