The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-03-28
Democrats Must Nominate Men Not
Tainted With Taggartism for Legis|a-
tive Offices or Get Ready for Trouble
.STATE NEEDS REFORMATION
Fighting Washington Township Democrat Admits He VIII
Not Be Renonated for Joint Representative Because He
Stands for House Cleaning of the State Government
He Attacks Homer Cook Without Cloves and Pays Re-
spects to Governor Ralston.

81 am not politician. l am not anx-
ious TO serve again in the legislature :;
in fact, have no ambition TO hold any
public office, but as a citizen / am
thoroughly interested in having the
state of Indiana rescued from the cor
rupt political machine which now con-
trolls it, and in having sane. econo-
. mical and honest government estab-
-. lished. l will do my humble part in
bringing about this reformation and
if il is necessary to make a fight
will be ready to enter into one"
This was the statement. or rathe.
declaration of war, made today by
Earl 7. Crawford. who served in the
last legislature as joint representa-
tive from Wayne and Fayette coun
ties, and who at that time was in con
stant revolt against the Taggart Dem
ocratic machine, which he says is a
disgrace to the state and responsible
for Indiana's reputation as being one
of the most backward of all common
wealths in the Union.
Will Make the Fur Fly.
Mr. Crawford again expressed the
opinion today that he would not be
re-nominsted for joint representative
because such action would be highly
Objectionable to the Taggart crowd
He also repeated his assertion that
he would make no effort to secure
the nomination, but added. with pro
nounced emphasis, that If the right
kind Of men" were not nominated by
the Democrats for the legislative of
fees there would be a mans sized
fight staged in Wayne, Fayette and
Union counties and that he would
have some statements to make which
would cause the voters to promptly
sit up and take notice.
Mr.. Crawford had an interview with
L. T. Bertsch, of Cambridge City, re
sentative on >the Democratic ticket
and he says Mr 8ertsch Informed him
he consented to having his candidacy
announced when told that Crawford
would not stand for denomination.
He Has Praise for eertsch.
II told Mr. Ber.sch. who is one OF
my best friends. that had never made
such an announcement" said Mr..
Crawford, land he then told me he
would not lift finger to secure a
place on the ticket; that if he was
nominated it would be without any
effort on his part. Mr.. Bertsch would
make a very desirable candidate: he
stands for the same things I do and il
ne is sent 10 the legislature ne Will
come back with the same record
made, an enemy of machine govern
ment and a champion OF progressive
legislation
Mr. Bertsch has been an active
temperance worker in Cambridge
City and four years ago was nomi-
mated for joint representative after a
stiff fight had been waged against
him by wet" Democrats. They sue
ceeded in defeating him at the cleo
ton, however.
Mr. Crawford is waiting with inter
est the selections of the Democrats
of candidates for representative and
Joint senator from Wayne and Union
counties II they are Taggart men
he frankly admits his intention Of 60
ing on the warpath
Wayne and Fayette Progressives are
hopeful Mr.. Crawford will accept the
Progressive nomination for joint rep
resentative. but he is noncommittal
on this subject.
"If the Democrats do not nominate
the right kind of men for the legisla-
tive offices I may decide to make the