Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1912 — NO CHANCE FOR “DARK HORSE." [ARTICLE]

NO CHANCE FOR “DARK HORSE."

[J. B. Stoll In South Bend Tlmes.J since it became apparent that the Boehne boom was ruthlessly trangled In the household of its projectors and promoters, diligent search has been made in various parts of the state for some accommodating gentleman to do service as a “dark horse” in the convention to be held at Indianapolis March 21. In so far as theso seductive invitations and importunities were heeded, they furnished what many regarded an amusing diversion and to that extent 'enlivened the humorous aspect of the situation. As county upon county throughout the state is electing Ralston delegates, in obedience to clearly defined popular sentiment,, the political virgins who have assumed to overcome public opinibn by undertaking to show |j that Samuel M. Ralston is making liis | race for Governor by using the feet I of Crawford Fairbanks and the head | of Thomas Taggart, ate becoming I -more and more desperate in the use I of their pop-guns. There is such a | thing as overdoing this sort of gun- | ning. Ambitious individuals who do j not care to stake their all on the im- j I mediate present, see the folly of at-1 tempting to accomplish the defeat of the* party’s choice for Governor by incessant yawping about Taggart and Fairbanks. Such individuals are suffl- | clently sagacious to understand that thinking men can see through this j bald subterfuge. j There is not a,shadow of doubt that 1 an overwhelming majority of - the 1 rank and file of the Indiana Demo- ! cracy want to see Samuel M. Ralston [ nominated for Governor, by reason of ! unquestionable fitness and indisput- | able worthiness and merit. In View i of this more than ordinary audacity is required to run counter to this sentiment by insisting that Mr. Ralston shall not be nominated because Mr. Taggart happens to be among many thousands of Indiana Democrats who believe this commonwealth would be benefited by the former being placed at the head of the state government. It so happens that Mr. Taggart has as often declared himself in favor of Gov. Marshall’s nomination to the presidency as he has expressed a desire for Mr. Ralston’s elevation to the governorship. Pitiable uiusl be the mental condition of individuals' who would oppose an unexceptional aspirant to office because of the overworked bugaboo that so-antbgo is enlisted in that aspirant’s - There is not a whit more reffi&m for opposing Samuel M. Ralston because Taggart favors his nomination than there is for opposing Thomas R. Marshall for president because Thomas Taggart is among his most effective and efficient supporters. Gentlemen who would some day like to be made Governor of Indiana will do well to bear in mind that the Democratic people of Indiana believe in ! the square deal and in fair play. All j attempts at political skullduggery will I surely meet with stern rebuke. There j is a fixed determination that the man ] whose nomination is desired oy an unmistakable majority of the Democratic voters of Indiana ghall be made the nominee of the 21st of March convention. There is too much at stake, in the administration of state affairs for the next four or five years, to take chances on a “dark horse” nomination, amidst excitement and confusion, superinduced by personal animosities rather than by a due consideration for the public good or the party’s best interests. This is not the time (o nominate a candidate for Governor by the dark lantern process. Ample time has been afforded to scrutinize and analyze the character and reputation of Samuel M. Ralston and John W. Boehne. Let the verdict be rendered according to the finding.