The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-01-10
Candidates for the United
States Senatorship Are of
Opinion That Taggart Will
Fight for His Friend.
DEMOCRATIC BOSS SAYS
HE WILL TAKE NO PART
However Aspirants for the Job
Realize That the Pluto King
Is Chuck Full of Political
Strategy.

Indianapolis. Jan. s.-The part
Thomas Tasgart is liable to play in
the senatorial fight is arousing almost
as much speculation as the senatorial
race itself. Legislators are lodging
here and there nferring on the mat
ter and 1t is with bated breath that
the candidates discuss his probable
stand. The fact is Taggart is the most
feared politician in the state of lndi-
ana. There are but few democratic
politicians in the state that have not
at one time or another been the vic
TINS of his willy political tricks and
1t can truthfully be said that ono
Thomas Taggart. Of Pluto Water fame
has always landed on top. 1t ia for
this reason his activities on behalf
of any one candidate are feared. That
he will keep his hands off, is the as
surance that he has given the candi-
dates themselves. That he will openly
jump into the game for John w. Kern
with coat off and coat sleeves rolled
up is the general belief. He. craftily.
will not disclose his hand to the pub
lie until the proper time comes and II
1t now expected that time will be next
Tuesday or a day before the caucus.
which will nominate one Of the six
candidates for senator. meets.
Moved caused Rs,ief.
When Taggart, through his first
lieutenants Joe Bell. Repgeoootative
Harry Bassett and Al Fearing, al OF
Indianapolis. announced that he In
tended to 90 to French Lick. the heme
Of Pluto. and would stay there until
after next week. the senatorial aspir-
ants breathed a sigh OF relief. much
the same as a man would after sue
They figured that Taggart would
not be on the scene of battle At the
critical time next week. They are
still figuring as to whether their first
calculations were correct.
Whatever the candidates themsel-
yes may say and no matter how hard
Taggarts lieutenants may try to A.
sure the legislators that Taggart 10
not In the fight. 1t is . cock sure GER
tainty that Taggart 10 in the fight.
and has been In the fight for the past
few days although he has At no time
noised the fact about. In fact Taggart
does not do his political work this
way. He does the major part Of it
secretly.
Taggart is . close friend Of John w.
Kern. erstwhile Eubernatorial and
vice presidential candidate. Kern 10
Taggart's attorney and has fought
many OF the gambling suits register.
ed against the French Lick king. and
consequently thinks Kern IL the best
man for the place.
Tagoast Works Sub Ross.
Taggart. it is declared by those who
have observed his political actions of
the past. is now working through hio
lieutenants figuring that II he open
ly espoused the cause of Kern at the
present time. he would injure his can
didate's chances. Taggart knows on
ly too well that he IL disliked by the
majority Of democrats In Indiana lt
is generally said that even now.
though Taggart be in French Lick. he
II keeping in touch with these lieuten-
ants and in case he gets a long dist
ance telephone message that dark ON.
inous clouds are threatening Kern'0
chances, he will come to Indianapolis
post haste.
| L. Ert Slack, Benz r. Shively. John
E. Lamb. Mai. Menzies and Edward @.
for James e. Hemenway's seat in the
United States Senate are all claiming
THAT they are sure to win, and say In
reference to Taggart that they have
received assurances from him that he
will take no active part in the light
against them In behalf og Kern. but
they know that he WILL II seems that
they fear to say anything against
Taggart for fear of offending him and
thereby lose his support In case the
senatorial question comes TO . dead
lock and his services are needed.
Down in their hearts an oe them real
ize that Taegart IL opposing them
| Will Taggart come back and openly
take the field for John w. Kern
That is the vital question that II -
ing asked now by the lawmakers.
| Fleming aAiiiiensire.
Stephen b. Fleming Of r. Wayne, Il
i probably the richest Law maker in
either house OF the Indiana LegfsIa-
ture
Il Fleming is said to be . milliooaire
several times over. but you would Aev-
er guess It to Iook at him.
/ He is the guardian angel Of the can
didacy Of Edward G. Ho6man's can1j-
dacy for the United States Senate.
and he is as busy ~ . beaver working
in behalf Of his pFotege- He thinks