The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-04-18

ne mas all along taken the pOSlllOu
that Taggart ought to be eliminated
from control OF the democratic party
in Indiana SO long as he seeks to use
it for himself and for nothing else.
In this position the governor has q
large following, but whether he would
be strong enough to defeat Taggart
in the convention Is a question. It
to see Governor Marshall take the
floor of the convention and make an
open fight against the Indiana Tam
many boss. Undoubtedly, Taggart
would not like to have such thing
happen, and it is equally certain that
the governor would not care to pull
off such stunt unless it was absolu-
tely necessary, but il the feeling
against Taggart domination is as
strong in the gubernatorial breast as
it seems to be it would not be sur
prise to see the thing happen.
The strong argument which Tag
CART is using against the adoption of
the governors plan is that it would
be impossible for the convention to
holds that no candidate would be able
to control enough votes to have him.
self nominated. and that a deadlock
would result. II the convention adopts
the plan it is certain that a number
of candidates will spring up. There
will be Major G. ". Menzies, from the
First district; Joseph II. Shea and L.
Ert Slack. from the Fourth: John E..
Lamb, from the Fifth; Tom Taggart,
from the Seventh; Congressman
Adair, from the Eighth: Dan Simms,
from the Tenth; Edward G.. Hoffman,
of the Twelfth and possibly Congress-
man Barnhart, of the Thirteenth.
And it is almost cinch that If nomin-
ations were called for some enthusiast
tic admirer of Governor Marshall
would leap to his feet and propose the
governors name and start stampede
or try to, whether the governor was
willing or not
1t is possible, also, that all of the
candidates have not been named here.
No one knows how many there would
be, but 1t is pointed out by the Tag
CART people that there would be SO
many that it would be out OF the ques-
ton for any one of them to get ma
jOrity of the delegates. Each district
would stand by its candidate to the
end OF the fight. and there is no rea-
son to believe that any district with a
candidate would climb over into an
other camp. There would be only one
possible outcome. Either the conven-
ton would be unable to nominate or
it would pick Governor Marshall for
senator. This is the fear of the Tag
CART element. So it can be seen that
the whole thing is up in the air, with
little chance of coming down This
is the main reason why Taggart does
not want the convention to try the
plan of the governor. He prefers to
have the question of selecting a candi-
date for senator left until next winter
and then let the members Of the legis-
lature make their own selection. In
such event, it is pointed out, Taggart
would stand better chance than he
would at the convention.
So, If the convention fails to adopt
the governors plan, Taggart may not
make his announcement as a candi-
date for senator for some time, but he
is an aspirant. nevertheless, and it
may be depended uuon that he will
continue to build fences from now I'M
til the time for the choice to be made.
1t will be remembered that he has al
ready taken suite of four rooms at
the Denison hotel for state convention
week, and it is supposed that this is
done in order to have a place where
he can push his own affairs.
There is more involved in this fight
than the mere senatorship. too. It
looks like fight to a finish by Tag
CART for his political supremacy in
this state. Politicians who have stud
led the situation believe Taggart is in
a tight hole. They point out that ii
the convention adopts the governors
pom eiAAA AoAAS " AOuAAAdIc d66dII HO
will be a deposed leader. Such a re-
suit would show that he could no
longer command the party in this
state. If the state convention should
happen to adopt the governors plan
and then nominate Taggart it would
place him head and shoulders above
all of the other democrats in the state
and make him the acknowledged lead
er of them ALL
II the plan is adopted and Taggart
is nominated it will mean that the
burden Of the whole campaign will
rest on his shoulders. and he will be
responsible for the outcome.
II the plan is adopted and Taggart
is not nominated then how much work
will he do in the campaign next fall?
The burden of the campaign would not
be on his shoulders but would rest
with the governor and whoever might
be nominated by the convention for
senator. Taggart would not have any
personal interest in the result. and it
is pointed out that he might not get
out and tear his clothes for the ticket.
Ii such a result should come about
and the democratic ticket were to be
defeated next fall Taggart would be
in a position to say to the party, Il
told you So" Such defeat would