Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-03-10
ONE OF THREE
LIKELY TO FILL
TAGGART GAP
WOollen, VanNuys or RalstOn
Seen as Possible Choice for
Senate Race.

Seen as Possible Choice for
Senate Race.
MUST BE APPOINTED
The withdrawal of Thomas Taggart as
candidate for the democratic nOmina-
ton for United States senator from In
diana creates vacancy on the primary
ballot which places the task of naming
a candidate for the nomination in the
hands of the state central committee.
At this time three prominent Indiana
democrats have been suggested as sue
cessors to Mr.. Taegart as q primary can
didate for the senate. They are Evans
.Moollen, president of the Fletcher Saw
eSfngs and Trust Company, Indianapolis;
Frederick YanNuys, United States dis
trict attorney, and Samuel NJ. Ralston,
former governor of Indiana.
Mr.. Woollen is popular with Indiana
democrats because of his ability which
he has proved in the business world and
in the position of United States fuel ad-
ministrator for Indiana during the world
war
Mr.. Woollen was urged by his friends
to become n candidate for the senate,
but he declined their proposal because
he believed that Mr.. Taggart desired
to make the race. Mr. Woollen's friends
believe that, inasmuch as Mr.. Tagga-t
has declined to be a candidate. he would
not be adverse to accepting the nomina.
tion.
CAN BE PROUD
OF CLEAN RECORD.
While he has never held a public Of
fee. Mr.. Woollen has taken part in
democratic party movements for many
years. He has never been associated
with any particular element In the party
and his record is clean.
During the war Mr.. woollen was
known as one of the most efficient fuel
administrators in the country. AS 4
result of his ability he was called TO
Washin gton. where he assisted Fuel Ad-
ministrator Garfield until the work of
the department was concluded.
Frederick VanNuys is well known TO
every democrat in Indiana. He was
chairman OF the state central committee
during the 1918 campaign and in this
capacity he gained a wide acquaintance.
Prior to becoming state chairman, Mr..
vanNuys was a member of the state
senate. He was prosecuting attorney of
Madison county, which is his home, be-
fore he came to Indianapolis as a mem
Der of the senate representing that
county.
Mr.. VarNuys became United States
district attorney last January, succeed
ing L. Ert Slack.
RALsTON MAY
AGREE TO RUN.
Mr.. RaIston is another possibility
whose friends have urged him to seek
the nomination. Early in the campaign
IL made the statement that he was not
candidate for any Office. Later his
friends circulated a petition in his behalf
planning TO place his name On the pri-
mary ballot for governor He refused to
permit this, however, because he had
pledged his support to DR.. Carleton B.
McCulIoch and felt bound to stand by
his pledge. Like Mr.. Woollen. Mr.. Rails
ton did not seek the nomination for
United states senator because of the i'm
preston that Mr.. Taggart would be the
candidate.
The state committee is expected to be
called into session some time this month.
1t appears probable that one of the
three probable candidates named Will be
selected by the committee.
The refusal Of Taggart to permit his
name to stand as the only entrant in
the democratic senatorial primary leaves
him free to assume the role he has long
Fad and in the performance of which he
has done much for the democratic party
'of Indiana.
Neither seeking office himself nor being
persuaded to become a nominee he is
free to devote his own peculiar genius
to the reorganization Of the democratic
party in the state and the conduct Of
a vigorous campaign, which alone is
necessary to the success of the demo-
cratic ticket in Indiana this fall
Mr.. Taggart, it is conceded by all
who know him, can not and should not
refrain from taking an active part In
Indiana democratic politics. The demo-
cratic party of the state without Mt
Taggsrt would be a number of groups
without q directing head. with Mr.. Tag
CART as a candidate the guiding genius
which has been of such benefit to others
In the party would have been dimme1
by the general restrictions Imposed by
the candidacy.
As q candidate for the senatorship, to
which he was entitled by every right
known to politics, Mr.. Taggart might
easily have set back and watched him.
self elected whether the rest OF the
ticket won or not
AS genial Tom Taggart always work.
ing for democratic success and always
sought out and regarded as the leader
of the party In the state, Mr.. Taggart
will be, as usual, interested in the sue
cess Of the whole ticket.
The democrats of the state in the
opinion of most politicians, have lost a
nominee whose success was assured, but
have regained q counsellor under whose
guidance they will be able to elect their
whole ticket. In speaking editorially of
Mr.. Taggart, the Ft. Wayne Journal
Gazette says:
Indiana politics has never known a
more pleasing personality. His smile is
known from coast to coast. And behind
the smile there has always been the good
viii and the generous intent. No one
perhaps ever went to Tom Taggart for
favor that was possible of bestowal to
carry disappointment away. And no one
applying for a favor ever had to present
party credentials. To him people are
Just folks No bitterness in party com
bat has ever left a scar. There was a
time when his very predominence made
enemies, but that period Is gone. His
popularity has withstood the wear and
tear Of time. And emerging at the age
OF so from the smoke of innumerable bat
ties he finds himself saluted by a unani-
nous party, and respected and liked by
all regardless of political affiliations"
- The impression created among close
3 f~Iitfcal observers in Indianapolis by Mr.
Taggart's withdrawal from the sena-
toria1 race is that he withdraws in