The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-10-04
He Is Going Into the Fight
For Governor With the
Temperance Element of the
Party Back of Him.
is NOW AGREEN THAT
HE HOLDS WHIP HAND.
Temperance Reform Move
ment Has Acquired Tremen-
dous Momentum in Indiana
and Must Be ReCkoned With

Indianapolis, Oct. "A new element
the temperance question-has entered
into the fight for control of the demo-
sratic party in Indiana. Dark clouds
are lowering over the democratic fold
and sharp flashes of lightning presage
a coming storm. Old-time democratic
politicians nudge each other knowingly
while they indulge in lugubrious pro-
phecies as to the probable finish" OF
Thomas Taggart.
The Rev. T. II. Kuhn of Richmond
is the man who is slated to lead the
temperance hosts against the Taggart
men that the democratic state commit
tee is now political asset of T. Tag
CART, who permits it to be dominated
absolutely by the brewery influence
If there are any bills to be pushed
| through the legislature in the interest
| of the breweries, or If there are any
bills obnoxious to the brewers to be
killed off, he democratic state COM
mittee is called upon to help turn the
| trick. Mr. Taggart has shown no evil
dence of a change of heart and It is
taken for granted that IL he succeeds iu
reorganizing the state committee next
January, to his own ideas and wishes,
it will continue to be an instrument in
the hands of the brewers.
| The slogan which went out from the
| raggart camp a few days ago, marking
the Rev. Mr.. Kuhn for slaughter be-
cause of his temperance views, has had
the effect to direct the fire of the tenn
perance reformers on Taggart. They
do not propose to let up until the willy
der1ocratic boss is overwhelmed and
crushed by the temperance avalanche,
which is now apparently sweeping ev-
erything before it in the state They
predict that it will be fight to the
finish between Kuhn. who wants to be
nominated for governor, and Taggart,
who desires to retain his grip on the
state committee.
Kuhn Holds Whip Hand.
1t is generally agreed that Kuhn
holds the whip hand over Taggart and
tnat he may make the boss dance to a
very lively tune. BY harnessing the
temperance sentiment in an onward
dash against Taggartism. Kuhn will
display a great deal of shrewdness.
The temperance reform movement
has acquired tremendous momentum in
Indiana and nowhere is 1t stronger
than among the Democrats Of the ru-
raj districts. The masses of the DEM
ocratic party in Indiana unquestiona-
h1yy fan K,,h
succeeds in enlisting their sympathy
and support he may confidently look
forward to a clean up'' of the social
ed Taggart gang.
The democrats who are encouraging
Mr.. Kuhn to take up the cudgels
against Taggart, point to the advanced
stand on the subject Of temperance by
the democrats of Georgia, who have
driven every saloon out of the state.
and also by the Oklahoma democrats
who voted that new state dry.
1t need surprise no one If temper
ance societies throughout Indiana be-
= gin at an early date to adopt resolu-
tions against Taggart and declaring for
. a temperance uplift that will drive the
breweries out of party control. The
. leaven is working and interesting
! times are ahead. The temperance
democrats already have a very sub
, stantial nucleus of an organization
, which is the outgrowth of their COOP
> Grafton in remonstrance work. Kuhn
is an aggressive combatant and it is
, predicted that he will be able to take
advantage of the anti-saloon sentiment
which is prevalent everywhere to the
. extent, at least, of giving Taggart one
of the big fights of his life.