Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-15
.TAGGART IN SADDLE
In Control of Democratic
Party in Indiana.
WAR ON GOV. MARSHALL
Candidate for the Presidency Has
Much to Worry Him.
QUESTION AS TO DELEGATION
Fear That Men Lacking in Staying
Powers Will Be Chosen for
Convention.
QUESTION AS TO DELEGATION

In contradiction of some OF the inter
views for publication of visiting Indiana
statesmen is the story about the demo-
cratic situation in Indiana which Is brought
by Louis Ludlow of the Indianapolis Star,
regarded as one of the most competent
and reliable political writer's in the state.
Mr.. Ludlow came to town today, and,
discussing Indiana presidential politics,
said:
Perhaps ] ought not to tell stories out
OF school, but we Hoosiers are very much
interested in a situation that has de-
yeloped to a razor's edge of acuteness
within the democratic party in Indiana.
1t relates to the selection of the Indiana
democratic delegation to the next national
convention and involves to large extent
the kind of backing which Gov. Marshall
will have from Indiana in the national
convention AS a preconventlon drama,
full of action and interesting contretemps
il probably beats anything now on the
political boards
Gov Wilson is not the only guberna-
torial presidential aspirant who has a
fight on with the politicians of his state.
Gov. Marshall is at war with the pol
itcans of his party in Indiana quite as
much as Gov Wilson is with the New
Jersey bosses, but the nature of the con-
fiict is somewhat different.
In Indiana il is a bloodlesS war OF
strategy, with salve instead of invective
as the weapon, but the muffled sounds
Of the wrestling match indicate a degree
of stress not even exceeded in New
Jersey.
Complexion Of Delegation.
Involved in the conflict is the COM
plexion of the Indiana delegation to the
democratic national convention. Thomas
Taggart is the head and front and about
all the remainder of the democratic or
ganization in Indiana. He has his admi-
ration for Gov. Marshall well under con-
troll, and the governor makes no bones or
the fact that Mr.. Taggart is not his
ideal of a statesman. Since he has held
the executive office Gov. Marshall has
kept free from the French Lick influence,
which is so dominant in the Indiana
democratic party. and has ignored the
state committee. which is Tagsart'S crea-
ton
THE question paramount among Indi-
ana politicians now is What is Taggart
going to do to the governor in the seiec-
ton of delegation to the national con-
vention?' Well, no one can forecast Tag
CARTS hand, of course but there are signs
and indications that he is shutting the
cards at a mighty rate. You folks down
east may recall that when Gov. Marshall
put through his plan for the selection Of
Senator Beveridges successor by the
state convention over ldSSdIJ lIiiIidi!t
opposition Taggart made dolorous
speech to the convention in which he
said his machine had gone to the scrap
heap.
Taggart in the Saddle.
.If you could see his political machine
in its present working order YOU would
realize what light and airy fiction that
was The state committee sneezes vehe
u,bo he al The St q
capitol at Indianapolis is full of demo-
cratic officials. and tho democratic Off
Gals, with tho exception Of the governor
are fuII of enthusiasm for Taggart, who
is their acknowledged leader.
The truth is that Mr.. Taggart never
vas more completely in the saddle in his
party in Indiana than he is today.
The situation az between the rival
camps is one Of extreme nervousness.
Each has its sentinels on the watch
tower and its spies in plain clothes. and
the passers back and forth afford in
finite entertainment. One is better anle
to see where the fun comes in when he
recalls that Taggart. who is too adroit
ever to be caught mapping, was the first
man to spring Marshalls boom for Presi-
dent i'm a public way.
This he did i'm banquet he gave
lat Congress Hall Hotel in Washington
nearly year ago Ostensibly the ban
quet was to further the candidacy OF
Stokes Jackson. chairman of the state
committee for sergeant-at-arm of the
national House of Representatives, but,
incidentally, Taggart astonished the large
aggregation of Hoosers present hy COM
ing out for Marshall for President and
drawing q graphic word picture of the
Inauguration of the Hoosier candidate
March 4. 1918. with Stokes Jackson lead
ing the inaugural parade down Pennsyl-
vania avenue. Taggart's magnificent
pro- Marshall demonstration on that oc-
casion confused some persons, but II did
not throw off the track those close OBJ
servers who have noticed that il is his
habit to anesthetize an opponent with
salve before plunging q sharp instru-
ment below his fifth rib.