Evening star., 1927-05-19
Woollen, Taggart Selection,
Cited as Presidential Timber

Public opinion, as expressed in both
major parties, is favorable to the
ability and fitness of Evans Woollen,
indianapolis banker, who has been
put forward by Thomas Taggart, In
diana leader, as his favorite for the
Democratic nomination for the Presi-
dency. 1t is conceded that he strength.
ems the position of his own State in
the 1928 convention, but there are
varying views as to the possibility of
his nomination and as to the prospects
of his success as a standard bearer.
Classifying him as a man 'of some
what conservative stamp" the New
York World independent Democratic)
testifies that "he has repeatedly shown
that he has the courage of his convic-
tions," but nevertheless concludes:
MIR. Taggart-at this stage of the
game, at any rate-is not taking very
seriously the idea of an Indianian for
President. He is looking for some
body to hold together the Taggart
vote at the convention, and he has
made happy choice"
IF this is a forerunner," remarks
the Raleigh News and Observer Demo
cratiC). ''of Ohio's presenting Donahey,
Missouri Reed, Iowa Meredith, Ten
nessee Hull, and a dozen other States
sending delegates for a favorite son.
it may grow into a policy of securing
national convention in which the
delegates will be free to deliberate,
unless each fayorite SON. gets
it into his head that by helping to pro-
long a deadlock he may be nominated.
That is what happened at New York
1t was not so much that McAdoo and
Smith tied up the convention as that
10 70 tn
that lightning would strike them"
On the other hand, the Louisville
Times Democratic) maintains that
"Mr. Woollen commands the interest
of many Democrats who would avoid
disaster of division within the marty
and who wish to see the Democratic
banner borne by a sane, sound candi-
date who stands for principles with
which the party has been identified
historically" His qualifications are
enumerated by the Times, including
the details that he lis a midlander,
free, as he is known now, from GER
tain disadvantages which are suffered
by some others: a native Of Indiana, a
battle-ground State; a banker, in whom
farmers have confidence"
X X X
Evans w OOuGu 10 Ofic VI LuS IcdAI1
outstanding figures in this country's
public life" according to the Birming
ham News independent Democratic),
which advises that "the Democratic
party might do worse than by keeping
an alert eye upon this upright, able
minded, cool-headed and hard-hitting
Hoosier, who takes his Democracy
straight as that Democracy was
taught by jefferson and later eXem-
plified by Jackson, Tilden, Cleveland
and Wilson"
The South Bend Tribune Gndepend-
ent Republican,, describing him as
tho Calvin Coolidge of the Demo
cratic party" offers the opinion that
''in year when Mr.. Coolidge was not
the Republican nominee the Indian
apolis banker would have a good
chance. The Democratic party of the
State Is showing its judgment in get
ting behind one who is easily among
the most favored available men in the
United States"
Certainly Thomas Taggart cannot
be dismissed as an idle dreamer" de-
clares the Hartford Times Gndepend- |
ent Democratic). His candidate in |
1912 was Thomas Riley Marshall. who |
emerged with the vice presidential |
nomination and became one Of the |
country's best-lQved figures. MnaMar |
shall grew In stature as he held onice.
Had he lived until 1924 he might nave
been the nominee and Q most fornt