Evening star., 1907-11-18
TACGART SAYS IT'S BRYAN
CHAIRMAN NATIONAL DEMO
CRATIC COMMITTEE TALKS.
Says West Now Blames Roosevelt
for Panic and He Would Have
No Walkover.

NEW YORK. November 1S.-Chairman
Thomas 'raggart of the democratic ma
tional committee was at the Waldorf
Astoria last night. He had long talk
with Col. James NJ. Guffey. democratic
national committeeman for Pennsylvania
While in town for the next two or three
days Chairman Taggart is to talk with
other democrats.
Concerning the proposed conference of
national democrats at French Lick, Mr
Taggart said:
The affair is a purely social one
have simply invited members of the dem
ocratic national and executive commit
tees, together with their wives to be my
guests for two three days. The con-
ference VIII in no sense be al official one
IL Is merely personal to myself and the
committeeman invited Twenty commit
teemen have accepted. Other members
nave written that the existing business
crisis will prevent their coming. Some
OF them are bankers Others are lawyers
Many live so far away that they have
been compelled to wait until the formal
meeting of the ma tionaI committee before
leaving their homes
viii the conference discuss the date
and place for holding the democratic M
tional conventiOn?"
Meeting in Washington.
Il presume we shall do so informally
Our committee has been accustomed to
meet in Washington while Congress is in
session. l assume that our meeting this
year will be held there Just when / can
not now say positively. The republican
national committee is to get together at
Washington December T. Ours is like
ly to meet after that. and it is possible
lhat we snail not get together until jan
uary."
'Is there a possibility that your French
Lick conference will discuss candidates
for the preSdency?'
1T has not been called for that purpose
Friends of pra ctically every man available
TOR the nomination will of course be
there
John p. Hopkins of Illinois says that
Mr.. Cleveland's name Will be discussed"
That is perhaps Mr.. Hopkins indi-
vidual opinion
What is the prevalent sentiment az to
the presidential nomination in the west?''
In Indiana 1t Is very strong for Bryan
HIS recent statement in the Commoner
helped increase that sentiment. | am
satisfied that if Mr.. Bryan wants the In
diana delegation to the national conven-
ton he will get it. Illinois, too. will, in
my judgment. be for him. Yes Gray of
Delaware. Johnson of Minnesota and
others are being talked about
How about Chanler?'
The movement for Chanler does not
seem to attract much out our way. He
is not known well"
rs it your judgment that it is Bryan
against the field?'
1t rather looks that way just now 1
do not know much about the situation
in Ohlo, but ! do about the situation in
Indiana and Illinois. I doubt very much
if Roger Sullivan of Illinois will oppose
Bryan
What do you regard as the paramount
tia1
paign?''
Trusts and Tariff.
Regulation of the trusts and the tariff
We don't want a radical PLATFORM We
should regulate. not annihilate business
doubt if the platform will contain gov
ernment ownership plank 1t is my belief
that Mr.. Bryan himself now has regula-
ton rather than government ownership
in his mind. l am inclined to think Mr.
Bryan's recent statement. if he does not
change it, will give him the presidential
nomination.
Where will the national convention be
heid?"
Il will not guess just now Seven cities
are contesting for it. They are Chicago
st. Louis st. Paul Cincinnati. Kansas
City. Atlantic City and Milwaukee,
us there any Hearst sentiment in In
diana?''
None"
DO western people blame President
Roosevelt for the recent business panic?"
Yes. And democrats general be-
lieve that Roosevelt will not have an easy
time securing a reelection should he be
renominated There is a third-term SEN
timent among his friends, but not among
the republicans at large. Democrats be-
lieve they can beat him al the polls
DO you think the President is working
for denomination"
Il have taken him at his word that he
will not be candidate or accept renom-
ination. To break his word would be
dangerous. indeed, for him The truth is
howevers that Roosevelt Is being forced.
as his f6ends put it. Indeed Roosevelt
himself Mems to be doing more to be
forced than anybody else
The members of the national executive
committee are William F. Sheehan. chair
man. August Belmont. James Smith. jr.
of New Jersey: James NJ Guffy of Penn
sylvania. John r. Mclean of Ohio.
Thomas S. Martin of Missouri, and Tim
othy f. Ryan of Wisconsin.