Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 250, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 October 1912 — TAGGART COLLAR IS WORN BY RALSTON [ARTICLE]

TAGGART COLLAR IS WORN BY RALSTON

Political Record of Democratic Candidate Shows Close Relation to Brewery Machine. S. M. Ralston is reported as having said in a speech at Salem, Ind.: “I learn that Mr. Beveridge pointed out in effect why I should not be made Governor of Indiana because of my relation with, certain men whom he denominates as bosses. This is legitimate argument, and I take no exceytion to it. If Mr. Beveridge can point out to the people of Indiana that * relationship ever existed between me and any man, or combinalon of men, in this State or elsewhere, that would make it unwise for the voters of Indiana to support my candidacy, it in his duty to do so. I go further than, that. If there is a voter in the State of Indiana who knows that I sustain a relationship with any man, or combination of men, -that would be likely, in his to influence me against the public welfare, in the event that I am made Governor, it is his duty as a citizen to. withhold his support from me.” The people generally remember wen the methods which Were used by the Crawford Fairbanks-Tom Taggart brewery machine to force every aspirant for the Democratic nomination for Governor out of the way in the interest of Mr. Ralston’s candidacy. The last to be forced out was John W. Boehne, Congressman from the First District, who as Mayor of Evansville, had compelled the breweries and the saloons to obey the law. Crawford. Fairbanks did not want him. He usually knows the men, he selects the favor and has a fair idea as to what! they are likely to do If elected. Rd-, membering these things, thousands or Democrats would have gone quietly at the polls and voted against Ralston without any noise about it before* hand. But here Ralston proposes a direct challenge. He can only be judged by his record, by the past. Thus we must form our belief as to what he will do. Judging by his past record, it will be worth about a million dollars to French Lick as the new, state capital and about that to the lawless brewery machine to have Sam Ralston in the Governor’s chair.

“I am and have always been a party man,” said Ralston. That statement la incorrect. Mr. Ralston has not been a party man, but a machine man, always. His allegiance to Thomas Taggart and his machine has always been greater than his allegiance to the Democratic party. He has not served the Interests of the masses of the Democratic party. He has been ever ready to override the will of the majority of the Democrats of Indiana to serve the will of a small and mercenary minority representative of the machine. Can he point to a single Instance wherein he has ever opposed the wishes of Fairbanks and Taggart? Can he point to a single instance wherein in any important matter he has ever had a policy, a thought, or a principle of his own? Has he not drawn his political life and'being for years Has he not been Taggart’s messenger boy, willing to* perform the most menial and degraded services at the behest of the boss? Can he show a solitary instance where in personal gratitude for past favors was ever evidenced by him, provided that his master forbade it? Has he not turned down his friends and consorted with his personal enemies at the mandate of Taggart? Can any one doubt, can Ralston deny that in case of a vacancy in a United States Senatorship he would n appoint to the United States Senate the man who got 21 voters outside of the stolen Marion County delegation in opposition to Kern? , Democrats who have suffered all. kinds of frauds, intimidation, remember these things too well to be killing to accept Ralston’s explanation. He would .not be the real Governor if elected. The real Governor would be Taggart, the sub-boss, the lieutenant of Crawford Fairbanks, king of the Democratic party of .Indiana. The proscription of all who will not wear the collar is notorious. No matter what services one has performed for the Democratic party, nothing counts in Indiana under this despotism except wearing the collar of faithful ser-i villty to the machine. No better ex-f ample of this servility can be found than Ralston. If the people of Indiana want to place servility before ability, if they want to condone'the methods of terrorism and thuggery which have made the name “Indiana Democrat” a badge of servitude the country over, they should elect Sam Ralston. But if the example of Governor Wilson in smashing the New Jersey machine is to be simulated, it would be kindness to themselves and to the future of the Democratic party in Indiana for Indiana Democrats to refuse to ratify and condone the debauched methods which made Sam Ralston the candidate for Governor of Indiana. Would Ralston, if elected Governor, use his influence in favor of an effective precinct primary election law? He would hardly favor a measure which would destroy the Fairbanks-Taggart machine. He would probably remember the scriptural injunction “Reme» ber thy creator.” The whole power of the Governor’s office would be used to strengthen the machine and its despotic authority. ' ’ •