Evening star., 1926-06-09
Politics at Large
By 6. Gould Lincoln.

With the bit in their teeth, the
younger breed Of Hoosier Democrats
have taken control OF the State COM
mittee and nominated a mar Of their
own choosing to run for the Senate
against Senator Jim" Watson next
November. tom" Taggart. former
Senator and veteran Democratic boss
of the State, seems to have suffered
an eclipse. The organization, which
meant Mr.. Taggart and his friends
had selected w. F.. Grove Of Bedford.
Ind. TO head the State committee. But
when the committee met recently. by
vote of Z to &. it elected r. Earl
Peters OF Fort Wayne. The contest
bitterness, it Is said. but il was sign
that the young blood was forging to
the front.
When the Democratic State cOnven-
ton met last week. however, to select
a candidate for the Senate. none Of
the seven or eight candidates having
received the necessary majority at the
polls. the revolt against the oreani-
cation became strongly evident. 1t
was well Understood that John f..
FREDERICK OF kokOmo was slated to
be the choice Of the convention by the
oraanfZa tiOn. lie Is d wealthy manu-.
facturer and chairman OF the Indiana
state Chamber Of Commerce. He ia u
third In the primaries. II must he re-
membered. however. that only $500
votes separated the four leading con-
testants In the senatorial primary. W.
A. Cullop. former member of Con-
gress. ran first. Albert Stump Of In
dianapolis second. Frederick third.
and l.. Ert Slack fourth. The others
received small votes and had no
chance in the convention.
Frederick ran true to form in the
convention on the first two ballots.
leading the field. But the friends of
tn1Iop. apparently incerxed because
the Tag&art Orsaniza ton had taken
part in the fight. started stampede
to Stump on the third ballot and the
Slack people Joined in. The result
WAS the nomination Of stump. Tag
CART claimed during the primary fight
and afterward that he was neutral.
But his friends IL was known. were
working for Frederick.
Reports from India ni indicate that
the Democrats now thst their row
is over. feel that they have made ID
" ise selection In stump. He is young
aggressive. good speaker. During
the World War he served as captain
in the Army. lie is lawyer and a
lecturer. The Democrats believe they
have d man who will put up good
fight against the veteran Senator
Watson. That he will he victorious
however. Is not credited at this
INN no M
The apparent passing Of Tom Tag
CART as the dominating influence In
Democratic politics in the state. how
ever. has caused more comment than
the nomination Of Stump. The veter'
an may stage comeback. but II
seems that ne has been giving too
little personal attention to politics In
recent wears to keep his hold on the
party leadership, His voice. however.
Will still continue to he potent. The
friends OF Gov. AL Smith of New
York. who wish him nominated for
President In the next Democratic
the thought that TasEart Is passing
from the picture In Indiana.
+ 4
George r. Brennan. Democratic
nominee for the Senate in Illinois
and the wet" hope of the State. is AL
ready engaged in an active campaign.
although election day is still fve
months away. His headquarters IN
Chicago are as busy rs though the
election were only two or three weeks
In the future. This is due in large
part to The work of Mr.. Rrennan n
In the interest of pntfiion f"f .
referendum on the liquor question In
Illinois in November. He mas "e'. -
Political observers are wondering II
Mr.. Brennan has not accidentally slip
ped little in so strongly urging
popular referendum on the ilouoi
question. Without such referendum
Brennan himself would be the referen'
dunn But suppose. they SAY. tol.
Frank l.. Smith. the Republican non'i-
nee. should announce ne would he
guided by the result of the referen-
dunn In his stand In the Senate on
proposals TO modify the dry laws
Where would that leave Mi. Bren'
nan? Col. Smith so far has made no
announcement with regard TO the
matter. During the primary ca m
paisn both he and Senator Mckinley
were indorsed as satisfactory by the
Antt.SaIoon League But an impres-
sion was gained by visitors At the
Smith headquarters then that Col.
Smith might be guided by the decision
of the voters in Illinois should a
cha nee be given for an expression of
opinion on the wet and dry question.
II Col. Smith should declare he
would he guided by the decision OF
the people OF the state as determined
by the referendum. wet Republica ms
who believe that the State is wet and
will 80 vote, as it did several Years
ago on q referendum, will feel at
perfect liberty to vote for Smith.
Should Col. Smith make such an
announcement. the drys. in retaliation,
might put bone.dr, candidate In
the field as an independent. But If
they did and the anti-Brennan vote
was thus split. II prOba bly, would re-
suit la the election Of Brennan, which
could scarcely aid the drys. 1t is pos
sible that the Anti Saloon League leau-
ers In Illinois would he willing to bring
about the election of Brennan just to
XIII of Smith. The league In New
York seems to be taking just such
position with regard to Senator
Wadsworth in that state, being will
Ing to bring about the election of a
wet Democrat just for the sat!sfac-
ton Of ditching Senator Wadsworth, a
wet Republican.
Mr.. Brennan Is planning to cam
paign through the State in q special
train when the campaign wsrms up
later. So extensive are the Brenna n
plans that there Is a growing con-
viction there is more to the cam
paign than the senatorial nomination.
It, Is believed that the candidacy of
Gov. AL Smith of New York for the
Democratic presidential nomination in
1928 will get a big boost in the State,
and outside, through the Brenna n
campaign. MIR. Brennan himself de-
nies that he is stalking horse for
any one and insists that he is out
to get himself elected to the Sena te