The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-02-21
palladium SpcciaD

indianapolis, Ind, Feb. 21.-The Sto-
ry which has been going around, and
which was first printed in this city,
to the effect that l.. Ert Slack, the
democratic statesman from Frank lin
had decided to withdraw from the race
for the United States senatorship and
become a candidate for the democrat
&c nomination for governor. has stirr-
ed Mr.. Slack into action. and he is now
out with a denial of the story. He
says there is not a word of truth in it
and that no one has any right to say
that he has given up his senatorial
ambitions. 1t will be remembered
that the article in question stated that
deal had been framed up by which
Slack was to get out of the senatorial
fight and leave the way open for John
E. Lamb, and that in return for this
Taggart had agreed to land for Slack
the nomination for governor The
story caused a good deal of comment.
because it was taken to mean that Tag
CART was already asserting his abso-
lutte ownership of the Indiana democ-
racy. This did not set very we'll with
a good many democrats over the state.
who are not in line with the Taggart
program. and evidently Slack is still
in the class that does not truckle to
Taggart. for he indicates in his denial
of the story that he does not believe
that Taggart is in such absolute con-
troll of the party as he thinks he is
Slack Makes Denial.
After making his general denial of
the story, Mr.. Slack says in his state
ment:
In the first place | have not drop
the second place, | am not now. nor
have l at this time, any intention of
being in the future, candidate for
Governor, nor do | know that Mr.
Taggart makes senators nor that he
has any intention of entering that bus
mess.
And in the third place ! have not
had any assurance from men like Mr.
Taggart or Mr.. Lamb, that they will
be for me for governor in two years.
And in the fourth place l am not
in any deal or arrangement otherwise
with any combination for the COVER
norship.
And in the fifth place do not know
of any combination on that subject
nor upon any other subject in Indiana
politics except as | see evidences OF
combines and cabals in the republican
party.
And in the sixth place do take
very seriously the democratic talk of
defeating Senator Beveridge in 1911
and | have no other thought in my
mind than that the democrats will con
troll both houses of the next legisa
ture.'
Warns to Tasgart.
Whether there has ever been any
truth in the story or not. that Slack
was warming up to the Taggart
crowd. there have been developments
in the past that indicated that such
was the case 1t will be remembered
that last summer Slack and Crawford
Fairbanks were in Washington togeth
err and that a conference OF Indiana
democratic congressman was held
Nulle luey were luere, DIT WHICH UOlu
were present. Joseph H. Shea of Sey.
mour. also was there, and it is known
that Shea stands closer to Senator
Shively than any other Indiana demo
crat. 1t is known, too, that Shively
had the support of the Taggart and
Crawford Fairbanks faction in the race
for United States Senator last winter
and that they were against Slack
The mere fact that Fairbanks and
Shea and Slack were all at Washing
ton at the same time and that they all
attended this conference was suffi.
cient to arouse interest in Indiana po-
litical affairs. and the newspaper cor
respondents at Washington hoped
on to it and sent out long stories &c
the effect that a reconciliation was be-
ing fixed up between Slack and his en-
emies. and that Slack was TO receive
favors at their hands. OF course
Slack. and all the rest. denied any such
arrangement.
Still! Fight the 6oss.
Since then the story has gone
around and around over the state. I'M
til the one was printed here couple oil
| weeks ago to the effect that Slack had
agreed to get out of the race for sena
tor and that Taggart had agreed &c