Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 194, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1910 — BOSSES’ SEAL ON MOUTH OF KERN [ARTICLE]

BOSSES’ SEAL ON MOUTH OF KERN

Amazement Caused by Speech At French Lick. KERN PRAISES REN SHIVELY •*' ■ - a , ■ . . ■» ; • Marshall Nut Among Democrats Received at French Lick by Crawford Fairbanka and Other Notables of Taggart Group—Marshall Followers Puzzled by Unusual Political Complications of Peculiar Campaign, Indiana people gasped when John W. Kepn accused fellow-Democrats of perfidious fraud and bribery In connection with the election of Senator Shively in 1909. If the bribery charges of Kern against Shively caused amazement, that, wonder was matched by Mr Kern’s astonishing speech at French Lick the other day, in which he praised Shively, the man he formerly had denounced most bitterly. Without retracting the bribery charges, Kern offered fulsome flattery to Shively, and publicly “pledged himself to talk “temperately” in future. As one of the Democratic editors says, “Kern is hermetically sealed.” Those, same Indiana people are asking, in some little wonderment, why Governor Marshall was not a central figure at the Democratic editors’ fest, in the French Lick Casino neighborhood. The editors voted to accept Tom Taggart’s invitation. The editors made up the program. The editors chose the speakers. Crawford Fairbanks and Tom Taggart, with John Kern, Lieutenant Governor Frank Hall and Sam were on the receiving line.

Where was Governor Marshall, and where was his speech, keynoting for the Democratic press? Was Governor Marshall expected, or did he refuse to venture into the classic Casino precincts?

The Democratic governor was praised in the resolutions passed by the editors, but his presence did not grace the scene, nor did his voice rise in the home of Taggartism. It is a queer political situation which makes it necessary for the Democratic governor and the Democratic press to play at cross-purposes. It is a situation pecuijar to Taggart domination. The presence of the benign King Mom us C. Fairbanks, Terre Haute multi-millionaire, apparently made up in large part for the absence of the Democratic governor. The presence of Crawford Fairbanks at the elbow of Tom Taggart apparently was takers by the editors to mean that the Fairbanks cashbox once more is to be dpened in the Taggart campaign. Ordinarily Indiana Democrats would hesitate to play Crawford Fairbanks as a central figure of their banquets. But this is no ordinary year for Indiana Democrats. They are more thoroughly subservient to Tom Taggart than ever before. He. has captured the Democratic editors, or a majority of them. He is pulling the strings with reckless hands. It is remarkable that but one editorial executive committeeman in thirteen saw whither Taggart was leading the Democratic press of Indiana when the brethren were invited to hold their convention at French Lick. It is remarkable that Governor Marshall has not been able to obtain a better hold on the self-respecting Democratic journalists of the state. As showing the attitude toward Tom Taggart and the effects of Taggart control of the editors, the resolutions praising Taggart himself are informing. The editors-say: "We have long known and appreciated the kindly qualities of heart of our host, the Hon. Thomas Taggart. We have often had brought to our attention his philosophy of life that it 1b better to give than to receive, and that a man’s life is noble just in the degree he serves his fellows. The splendid entertainment he has again this year provided for the members of our assodantion at his great French Lick hotel It another evidence of his generous nature, and we experience a genuine pleasure In assuring him in a public manner of our personal attachment to him as a friend, and of our unbounded faith in him as a man and a citizen." Every tinhorn sport, croupier, tout and dice roller in Indiana no doubt will say a loud "amen” to that beautiful and soulful resolution passed with such enthusiasm by the Democratic editors of Indiana. But how about the plain citizens? Do they share, this “unbounded faith” in Taggart?