Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 255, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1916 — LEADING DEMOCRATIC PAPERS OPPOSED TAGGART WHEN HE WAS NOT ON THEIR TICKET [ARTICLE]

LEADING DEMOCRATIC PAPERS OPPOSED TAGGART WHEN HE WAS NOT ON THEIR TICKET

The Fort Wayne Journal-Qaseito, the leading Democratic organ of northeastern Indiana, in July, 1909, demanded Tom Taggart’s resignation as chairman of the National Canunlt* tee, saying: “There may be more politics ' than morality fn the French Lick gambling crusade, but the case is against Mr. Taggart, and he can not continue to -serve a« man of the National Dethocratio Committee without doing the party irreparable barm. The relation between the hotels and the casinos, or gambling houses at Frendh Lick and West Baden are too well known to admit of doubt: Tbs issue is made between the state of Indiana and men who have challenged Its authority for years, and the people will stand by the state as against the law breakers and gamblers, who ought to be driven out of the business forever.” . In July, 1906 the Richmond SunTelegram, the leading Democratic paper In the Sixth district, demanded that Tom Taggart, Democratic National chairman, step down and out, in view of the demoralizing work done by the state in Taggart’s gambling den at French Lick. In part the SunTelegram said: “Every moment he now peaee as a representative of the Democracy of the state and Union is an injustice to the party which gave him the prominence he has had in —* the political world." The Evansville Courier, the leading Democratic paper in the state, in January, 1912, had the following to say in a long editorial on Taggart tivitles: If Taggart, succeeds in naming the state ticket from the ehief executive to the judiciary In the Democratic convention on March 21, he will pave the way for hit entrance in the United States senate. But you say, if Ralston is nominated carrying the load of Crawford Fairbanks and Tom Taggart he can’t win. There is a chance that he might, and Taggart is taking that chance. -If he doesn t Taggart is no worse off than _ though Boehne were elected by 100,000. The party has never won in Indiana with Taggart in control. Its worse defeat was when he had complete control —in 1994. It was his candidate that was running for the presidency, he was national chairman, the state chairman, W. H. O’Brien, was his own selection. Nevertheless in all these yearn of party defeat, Taggart has grown no poorer. His financial condition has not been injured. Why should he worry over the defeat of the i Democratic party In ; Indiana next fall.