The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-03-27
Tom Taggart' $ man won.


Thomas r. Marshall of Columbia
City was not his first choice as was
Samuel NJ Ralston. but the nominal
tion of the Whitley county lawyer at
the state democratic convention pleas
ed the man who has so long he I'D a
mortgage on the life and liberty of
the democratic party i'll Indiana.
When Taggart saw that RalStOn
would never be nominated at the end
of the fourth ballot owing to the in
creasing strength of Senator l.. Ert
Slack of Franklin, Ind, the national
chairman got busy, communicated
with his RalSton cohorts, RalStOn him
self and the Marshall men who enter
ed the convention with a perfect un-
derstanding as to what would be done
In case it was seen that RalstOns fight
was a losing one. Slack led the field
at this point. After the fourth ballot
had been pOlled Ralston arose TO his
feet and Chairman Mier called the at
tention of the convention, that it
might hear the Lebanon mans story
of self sacrifice.
AS quick as Ralston arose to his
feet. hum arose over the convention
floor and the galleries. This increas-
ed almost to a din before Ralston was
allowed to speak.
Marshall now wins Ralston is 60
ing to withdraw" was heard on all
sides. Taggart moved from the rear
of the convention hall Immediately in
! front of the press box and directly be-
fore the speaker. His eyes cleaned
with delight. He smiled family and
looked at Stokes Jackson, state chair
man, and winked. Stokes smiled back.
Both Taggart and Jackson glanced at
Stephen B. Fleming the Ft Wayne
{ brewer. The latter gentleman was so
"uokled" he almost shouted his de-
light before the Hon. Mr.. Ralston
spoke, for his actions indicated that
he knew what was coming
With a slight cough, Ralston clear
ed his throat
The convention was deathly quiet
for delegates and spectators number
Ing more than four thousand, realized
that some sort of an important move
was about TO be pulled off.
Il have been an interested specta-
tor at the proceedings Of this conven-
tion, and l see the delegates are in
doubt about which one of the candi-
dates TO nominate for governor" said
Mp. Ralston. Il don't want the NOM
ination if there is any doubt of wheth-
er | should have il. and so | wish to
withdraw from the race. | extend my
heartiest thanks to my friends who
have stood by me so Loyalty here to-
day"
Cries of NO, No" rang out from
those who thought Ralston was not
and never had been a candidate of the
democratic machine. the throttle of
which is held by Taggart.
This was not SO with the Twelfth dis
trict delegation. headed by Fleming,
the brewer. Small American flags
which had been distributed TO all dele
gates in this body were almost fraved
by the violent waving. Men beat each
other on the back. They grew white
from pure exhaustion in yelling and
many of them sank 10 their seats
Some men clambered on ton OF the
seats. and when Fleming took his no
sition in front Of them as Yell leader.
yells for Marshall reverberated over
old Tomlinson hail as democratic
cheers had never reverberated before.
Slack was leading the field having
@S11s votes at this time. while Marshall
had only 312s4. To an onlooker it
seemed as though there must have
been an agreement between the Raj
ston and Marshall forces. Why this