The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-03-24
MACHINE is IN CONFERENCE
6ookwslter and His Clique Told
All Their Cohorts to Stick with
Tagsart and Brewery Element to
The End.

Claim is being made at indianapolis
that the republican organization
which at present is in control of af-
fairs at the capital city. has allied it's
forces with Thomas Taggart To contin-
ue him as the democratic leader Tho
entire Marion county republican ma
chine is expected TO join in the effort
TO restore the Genial Tom" to the lau-
rels wrenched from him two weeks
ago. The charge is made that the re-
publicans will do all within their pow
er TO bring about the selection of Sam
Ralston as the democratic choice for
governor. Ralston is the Taggart
candidate. The first test of strength
was made today, when delegates were
chosen for the democratic state con-
vention in Marion county. Mayor
Bookwalter John c. Ruckelshaus,
county chairman: Oliver p Ensley. dis
trict chairman. and w. F. Davis. are
the republicans said to be most con-
cerned in the selection of Taggart del
egates.
These republican leaders 4S-tfes a.
a meeting last week to- join with the
brewery and saloon forces in seeking
TO elect delegates that would vote for
Tagsart as national committeeman,
and for Samuel NJ. Ralston. OF Leba-
non. for the nomination for governor.
Ralston is Taggart's choice in the gov
ernorship race. so delegates favorable
TO Ta2gart's reelection would support
the Lebanon man.
Orders to Republican Workers.
Immediately following the decision.
republican workers from many wards
were called into conference and told to
get busy and keep busy until the polls
close Tuesday evening. Bookwalter
told the men close enough 70 him 10
be controlled: Ruckelshaus instructed
those who look 10 him for leadership;
Ensley lined up his supporters and Da-
Wis passed the word along among his
worke Within a day or two it was
generally understood among the man
ayers and supporters of the republican
machine that the organization" was
for Taggart and that the day must bs
saved for the democratic boss.
Tasgsrt in Bad Way.
The republican leaders canvasaed the
democratic situation thoroughly and
agreed that Taggart was in a bad way.
| The democratic machine. il was agreed
vas nearing the rocks Therefore it
was agreed that republican aid was i'm
perative The foreign and negro vote
was discussed and it was agreed that
he foreigners could he voted almost to
a man for the Taggart states in the
Fifth. Sixth. Twelfth and Fifteenth
wards. This is A floating vote that
can be used by either machine at any
time The republicans feared how
ever. the effect of an attempt to vots
negroes for Taggart.
Corruption Charged.
Charging in the most bitter terms
that the vilest and most corrupt
schemes known TO the game of politics
are to he employed by the Keach-
Holtzman forces today in the selection
Of Marion county delegates To the dem
ocratic state convention. the Taggart
wing Of the party at indianapolis at
midnight last night declared that. al
though it will have representation on
only three Of the election boards in the
city. it proposes 10 pitch into the fight
with an unalterable determination TO
demand and obtain fair play.
Charges and counter charges were
hurled like bombs from one camp into
the other throughout the night. and
in the turmoil the contest for the nom
ination Of state candidates was utterly
forgotten and the fight became one
solely between the Tageart wing and
its enemies
John w Kern. prospective eaBdi-
date for the vice presidential nomina-
tion. was one Of the men who made the
most scathing accusations against tho
anti -Tszzart element. against the men
in charge of the coIntv organization
who have the election in charge