The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-03-15
GOVERNORS PLAN
CAUSES COMMENT
John Lamb Approves Idea of
Nominating Senator at
the Convention.
TAGGART IS NOT TALKING
BUT IT Is GENERALLY BELIEVED
THAT THE BOSS OF FRENCH
LICK IS NOT ENTHUSIASTIC ov-
:R SCHEME.
palladium Specially

state convention in April shall nomi-
nate the candidate of the party for
United States senator, is since the
governor gave his public expression
yesterday, one of the Invest issues
among the democrats. Both John +.
Lamb of Terre Haute and Thomas
Taggart came out with public state
ments in regard to the matter within a
short time after the governor had CIV
en- his expression. Mr.. Lamb, who is
an avowed candidate for United States
SENATOR is in favor of the plans. He
Endorses all of the reasons given by
the governor for adopting such a plan
and says that as candidate he is will
vention. Mr.. Taggart neither ap-
proves nor disapprOves the idea, but
from his conversation it is easily judg-
ed that he does not think much of it.
The governors reasons in sub
stance for advocating such plan are
these
Is Not Constitutional.
The democratic party since 1904 has
been declaring for the election of Unit
ed States senator by popular vote.
Since this is not possible under the
constitution, the endorsement by a
state convention is the next best thing.
This plan would be better than the
popular vote, for with the popular vote
and the necessity of a candidate for
making campaign over the entire
state, the poor man would have no
&l.s~
equal chance and the poor man can
60 among the delegates to the state
convention just as easily as the rich
one.
1t would place the republicans at a
disadvantage because one of the ar
guments that are put forth by those
who favor Senator Beverage is that
the people have no idea what kind of
man will succeed him If the legislature
is democratic and will not have any
idea until after the legislature has con-
vened.
Not Boosting a Favorite.
The governor says that in making
his declaration he is not seeking to
boost any candidate. He declares that
himself for he would never become a
candidate for United States senator
while he is governor. He says he has
kept his hands off so far as personal
work is concerned and will continue
to do so.
Mr.. Taggart, when asked about the
question yesterday afternoon, said
that he had read the governors views
He said that he could see no particular
objection to the plan, nor could he see
any particular advantage.
1T is something new" said Mr.. Tag
CART. 1T is departure. We have
been getting our United States senators
in another way for long time and as
l run over the list which includes the
names of Voorhees,. Turpie, Shively and
other distinguished men, I can not see
that we have made any great mistake
under the old plan"
MIGHT Be a Damper.
Mr.. Taggart mentioned one disad-
vantage which might arise under the
new plan. He said that if there were
for example. ten candidates for United
States senator in the race, and all ex-
cept one were eliminated at the time
of the state convention, the cher nine
Nigh not be quite so enthusiastic in
their work during the campaign, and
that their friends might not be quite
so enthusiastic in their work as they
would be If all ten of the candidates
were still in the race, each with a
chance to win.
Mr.. Taggart repeated however that
he could see no objection to the plan
If the majority of the state convention
wished to adopt it. And he said he
would not oppose the adoption of it
unless he should see some better rea-
son for so doing than he sees now.
One Of the most ardent Taggart
democratic leaders in Indianapolis
made the statement that if some Of
the democrats believed they saw a
chance by this new plan to put an end
to Mr.. Taggart's power in politics be-
lieving that he would not be able to
control the nomination even if it were
made by the state convention they
were mistaken.
He Gets What he Wants.
MIR. Taggart has never ben beat
On for anything that he has sought
personally" said this man, land if he
wished the Endorsement Of himself for
United States senator at the hands OF
the state convention he would get it.
Or II he wished he would be able to
have the state convention turn this
plan down." This man, by the way,
is a close personal friend of Governor
Marshall, but he has always trained
with the Taggart forces. He is prom
inent just now in state politics but
declines to allow his name to be used.
All kinds of charges are floating
around in regard to the matter. Some
declare that the governor is merely
trying to get a good candidate for
United States senator with whom to
oppose Senator Beveridge and others
say that the governor has been led
into . trap by those who oppose Tag
CART and believe that Taggart would
not be able to land the nomination for
United States senator II the question
were left to the state convention
There are others who say that the
leading democrats are realizing that