Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 January 1913 — MORE PRAISE FOR THOMAS TAGGART [ARTICLE]

MORE PRAISE FOR THOMAS TAGGART

Speaker Cook Eulogized the Smiling Bom in Address to the House After His Election. / ** > ■. The legislature opened on schedule time Thursday in Indianapolis. Completing the democratic caucus selection for speaker, Homer I* Cook, of Indianapolis, was elected. The republicans, four in number, nominated Jesse E. Eschbach, of Warsaw. There are 95 democrats, 4 republicans and 1 progressive In the house. Mr. Cook gave an address, setting out what he regarded to be the diity of the democrats. He made Tom Taggart the chief topic of his address, saying. that Tom was right and was worthy and deserved to be followed with implicit faith. In an outburst of enthusiasm Mr. Cook said: “Who is it who knows Tom Taggart and who does not believe in him? “I want to say right here—you who don’t know Tom Taggart personally—you wiH do well to follow him during this session of this legislature. You will find him one of the most progressive democrats in the party. I want to tell you now if you do not already know it, that he is one of the many leaders who is advocating that we give the people of this state the legislation they want.’’ Tom Taggart is to be the “invisible” government if • Mr. Cook has his way and whatever Tom wants done or undone the democrats are asked to do without question. It was the first time in all history that Tom was ever called a progressive but he admits that he is -and to prove it will doubtless reinstate saloons in every county in Indiana, on the theory that “the people should have what they want,” even if some way has to be devised to prevent them from expressing that want in the form of a ballot.

Governor Marshall submitted his last message to the legislature. He evidently has scented the scheme to destroy the temperance laws of the state, for he employed a few lines to remind the legislature that the democratic platform had pledged itself not to interfere with the reremonstrance law. He spoke of the present option law and the regula tory law 'as measures that did not seek to prevent, but only to regulate the sale of intoxicating liquors and pronounced them the best yet enacted. Governor Marshall was very careful not to say anything to offend the liquor Interests. Governor Marshall has criticised the method of holding up bills in committees and Representative Patton introduced a resolution to require that committees report on bills within six days and that all measures eventually reach second reading. Representative W. W. Spencer, of Marion county, democratic floor leader, was on his feet in a flash with a motion to table the resolution, and before Mr. Patton was able to call for a vote by roll call the Spencer move carried by a vive voce vote. The Taggart machine had flattened out the first Marshall proposition submitted, before the governor, only a short time later, recommended to the lawmakers a change in the rules to provide for committee reports within five days after bills are assigned.