Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 150, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 June 1910 — TAGGART’S RAGE LED TO DEFEAT [ARTICLE]

TAGGART’S RAGE LED TO DEFEAT

John Lamb Tells How Bosses Had Fight Won. HISSIH6 BEE CAUSES REVOLT Tasgart Let Hoatilaa Abuse His Foe In Convention, and 8o Lost Hold on Delegates at Critical Point—Will Hi Let Toga Get Away at Last? Indianapolis, June 23. —John E. Lamb of Terre Haute, formerly “mechanician and chauffeur” In the Tom Taggart political touring car, has been In New York city. While there he was Interviewed on Indiana politics. Mr. Lamb predicta an overwhelming Democratic victory in Indiana this l year. He haa prophesied before, many times, the same way. Mr. Lamb is most Interesting when he talks of Crawford Fairbanks, Thomas 'Taggart and the Democratic state convention, where the Taggart crowd hissed Mr. Lamb for nearly five minutes, and where, Mr. Lamb declares, Thomas Taggart missed his great chance for the senatorial nomination by permitting the serpents to have their way, Mr. Lamb says: "Tom Taggart is a very smart man, a kindly and a lovable fellow. He, as a rule, can see a point In a*flash and can take advantage of It. But he permitted his angry passions to get way with him and lost his head in that convention. When we went into session they had me beaten and Tom would certainly have been the nominee. “I knew the only way to switch things was to get them roiled up. I wanted the country delegates to see how the gang of the boss acted up. Well, they surely acted up. They hissed me for four and a half minutes at one stretch. It was music to my ears. Now, if at that time, in his usual fairness, Taggart had mounted his chair and insisted upon my receiving a man’s treatment he would have had me hamstrung. But he permitted his feelings to get away with his better nature and judgment. They continued In their efforts to yell me down. Before they got through I had them at my mercy. I beat them by about thirty votes, but would never been able to do so had it not been for the actions of the Taggart following. I .<jetermiaff{l %£gg%rt should jjot win and was awfully glad John Kern did. If I had to lose out myself.” It is exceedingly interesting to Indiana voters to hear from Mr. Lamb, who was on the inside, that Thomai .Taggart actually was so close to the senatorial indorsement. Mr. Lamb ought to know. A lot of Democrats, not so frank and free with talk as Mr. Lamb, are trying to convince the people that Tom Taggart was a nonentity and a political “joke” In the Democratic state convention. Some of those Democrats who do not love Mr. Taggart have been trying through the Marshall press bureau and in other tqjnake It appear that Taggart was a severely beaten and humiliated boss when the state convention had completed Its work. But here rises John Lamb to admit frankly that Taggart was the real power In the convention, and that he had the honors of the day safely In his grasp, but let his temper get the better of his judgment. It will occur to the voter to ask whether Taggart still controls matters as he did at the Democratic state convention. Assuredly his grip has not relaxed. What is there to prevent him from taking the toga at the last, providing Democrats carry the legislature. The man who controlled a majority of state delegates may control a caucus majority. Who knows?