The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1910-12-27

but both Fleming and the Governor
have. denied the story.
The Man Behind.
The best evidence that Taggart is the
real man behind the gun" is found IA
the spea kership race and the way it
is working out. 1t is believed here
that Adam Wise, of Plymouth. is sure
of being elected speaker This de-
velopment has come in the last two or
three days. Up to that time it looked
like open which any of the
three four leading candidates might
win. but there is good reason TO believe
that the Taggart crowd has settled on
Wise and that it intends to put him
vore regardless of whether anyone
likes it or not.
Taggart himself says he is not TAX
ing any hand in the speakership fight
and that he will be we'll pleased with
any one OF the candidates in the chair
He says they are all good men and
that either one would make a good
speaker. And on the surface there is
not even ripple to show that Taggart
is doing anything in the fight.
You Cam See Traces.
But when you get below the surface
pou can see the traces of Taggart's or
ganization work. The most significant
indication of the fact that Wise ia.
been selected by this element for
speaker is found in the fact that the
Taggart followers are Offering to bet
that Wise will be elected. A few small
bets have been posted on the betting
boards in local pool rooms that Wise
will be elected speaker, and it has been
learned that the money is put up by
Taggart ment 1t is said too that if
these bets are taken there will be much
more money posted on the same propo-
sition.
There are some who profess to be-
lieve that If Taggart really shows his
hand in the speakership fight he will
come out for Albert ]. Venneman. of
Evansville but there is not the slight
est reason for this belief. 1t is admit
ted by those who know Venneman that
he would not be a satisfactory speaker
for Tagart. His political affiliations in
the past have not been of the kind that
would appeal to Taggart, for Venue
man has not been wet enough to suit
| him
The Other Candidates.
| Nenneman's followers still insist that
he viii come into the caucus with more
votes that any other candidate can
muster on the first ballot, and this is
probably true, unless all of the Tag
CART following should happen to unite
on Wise and try to put his across on
the first ballot. Venneman has the
eight Democratic Representatives from
the first district, two from the second
and possibly two from the third dis
trict to star with, and this is believed
to put him in the lead.
| Adolpn Seidensticker, of Marion
county, it is known, would be entirely
satisfactory to Governor Marshall as
the speaker. SO would Joseph NJ
also would not object to venneman, Sc
it is said, although he has not made
public expression of any preference
among the candidates
| But it is said that the Governor doe:
not favor Wise. Senator Fleming il
for Wise, and this is the rock on which
1t is said he and the Governor came
near wrecking their political friend
ship of so many years standing.
Had Good Prospect.
Seidensticker started in the rae,
with a fine prospect. But the Taggar
crowd has worked steadily on tn
Marion county delegation, which wa
supposed to stand seven for Seiden
lsticker and one against him. and. ii +
isaid now that Seidensticker will not b.