Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1920 — THOMAS TAGGART THE MAN [ARTICLE]

THOMAS TAGGART THE MAN

Taxpayers’ ” Economy Candidate for Senator Runs on His. Record.

Thomas Taggart was borp in 1856 in County Monyghan, Ireland. His people were small farmers, poor, hard working folks, coming to America as steerage passengers in 1861. The Taggarts left part of the family On the “Ould Sod” to be sent for when the money could be earned to pay for their ocean passage. At Xenia, Ohio, Thomas Taggart, aged six, began his career as an earner with bootblack’s kit and aB a newsboy. At eleven he was chore boy In the depot restaurant. At seventeen he had advanced to ‘‘clerk’’ at $8 per week. In 1875 he was sent to Garrett, Ind., to open a new eating house for his employers. In 1877 he arrived in Indianapolis at the Union Depot hotel. Wins Early Success. His success as a superintendent of this establishment, and the personal contact with all kinds of people developed for Tom Taggart a popularity which attracted political leaders who sought new material for strengthening their forces. As early as 1884 Young Taggart was urged to run for office. He declined. Taggart’s early ventures in poetics were made to help frlpnds. His first battle was fought to elect a friend who was being “doublecrossed” in a race for a city office in Indianapolis. In 1886 he was induced to run for county auditor. He was nominated. In a Republican county he was elected by a 1,798 plurality. His genius for victory was noted and his party drafted Taggart to serve as county chairman. In 1888, a presidential year, with an Indianapolis man, Gen. Benjamin Harrison, as the Republican Presidential nominee, Tom Taggart’s organization genius had its severest test. His party ca# ried Marion county by 300 and the feat attracted national attention. Makes Business Record. Running on his business record, Tom Taggart was re-elected county auditor in 1890 by 5,000 and more. He resigned in 1895 to take office as mayor of Indianapolis, and there served three terms, declining a fourth. His record as mayor rendered him unbeatable. His economics, his constructive policies, his vision and foresight, the efficiency of his chosen helpers, and his personal popularity, ever increasing, made him a positive factor in Indiana politics. He gave Indianapolis parks, good streets, sewers, sidewalks, fire protection and safety measures, all at lowered cost and enhanced values. Indianapolis was administered at a lower cost than any other like city and her debt was next to the lowest among similar municipalities. Taggart applied then the budget principle, he today continues to urge in business, public and private. Always a Builder. As a business man Thomas Taggart took the lead, building from poverty by hard work and fair economy methods until he occupies a prominent place among the successful builders in the national field. Tom Taggart has earned a leading place as an agriculturist. His extensive acres in Orange county, Indiana, have been personally managed by Mr. Taggart. His dairy herds lead the state in productivity. His pure bred swine and egg-laying fowls are famous. Ab a producer Tom Taggart has studied thje highway needs of Indiana. His active part in good roads campaigns led to his appointment on an Indiana highway commission, ahd he toured the state to aid the highway movement.

i Useful Citizen. Citizen Taggart has always continued to be a factor in public affairs. Indiana schools owe Tom Taggart a real debt of praise.*' In 1913 enlisted for the schools by leaders in education, Thomas Taggart, in public speech and through personal effort greatly aided in getting fair tax levy to support and develop the three great state colleges. These schools were thus taken out of politics, and out of the legislative lobby. Taggart also helped to put through, the vocational education levy On an adequate basis. Speaking of Citizen Taggart’s help given to the women to help put through housing laws • and bills, for the good of women and children, Mrs. Albion. Fellows Bacon says: i. "Women who were working for various bills of interest to women and Children found Mr. Taggart had foreseen the need of many 6f them; that he fully appreciated their value to the Btate, and that he could suggest ■ advanced steps that we had not dared to contemplate, |“We found that we could de'pend absolutely on Mr. Taggart’s wor.d, as well as on his judgment. If we had bad a few Thomas Taggart* in the senate I believe we should have already the league of nations" Mr. Taggart served his party state chairman, as Indiana national

committeeman and as national chali* man. Makes Way for Kern. In 19ld while still in the lead among those voted for in a state convention preferential test, Tom Taggart drew out in favor of the late John W. Kern, who that year was elected United States senator and whose progressive record is his glorious monument. In 1912 Mr. Taggart was one of the leaders who helped advance to dominance the progressive elements of the time, under Woodrow Wilson, thus helping to initiate that constructive era to which Democrats point with pride. At the death of the late Senator B. F. Shively in 1916, Thomas Taggart was appointed to fill the vacancy for a six months’ period. Governor Samuel M. Ralston was generally praised for making the appointment. Hailed as “Watch Dog-”

Washington and the nation soon hailed the new senator as the “watchdog of the Treasury.” In his maiden senate speech Senator Taggart urged the bill for federal aid for good roads, but demanded economy and business safeguards, and offered wise and acceptable suggestions for the prevention of waste. Then came the sensation of that senate session; as some oldtimers said; “Tom Taggart turned Progressive.” What Tom Taggart did was to apply to his senate conduct the simple business rules, the budget principle laid down in his business success and in his service in minor public offices. When “pork barrel” items were tacked on the rivers and harbors bill Senator Taggart exposed the waste and extravagance of such demands, showed that they were not justifiable and voted to cut them out. This happened also in connection with useless public building provisions which Senator Taggart not only opposed but which he proved were utterly without justification. More Taggarts Needed. The press throughout the country "cheered” Senator Taggart as the champion of economy and lower taxes and declared the country had need for more such fighters in the senate. Unanimously nominated for senator in 1916, Mr. Taggart proved formidable in spite of the fact that his senate record in the brief period before the election day that year, had not reached all the taxpayers in its true significance. However the change of two votes to a precinct in Indiana would have elected Senator Taggart. In 1920 Mr. Tagg-vrt declined at first to make the senatorial race. Finding his party united and urgent, he finally accepted the call. He runs on his own economy record. In this campaign he is stronger than ever with the taxpayers, for they know his active and effective work at Washington will mean reduced government expenses and lower taxes. They know he is for a budget, for keeping public expenses within public income; against waste, extravagance “pork” and j unbusinesslike methods. Stability Demanded.

Thomas Taggart appeals to all Americans, for he is for that stability and prosperity and progress which are to come through a Just and lasting peace effected by that going concern, already at work, the league of nations. He holds with other leaders that civilization must function and that the league is the best agency yet organized to onforce civilization’s laws and needs. He insists that America shall do her part as a factor in a civilization which shall be able in future to maintain law and order and justice, thus reducing to a minimum the hazard of war, and thus cutting out the taxes that now must be paid to build fleets and support armies. In his attitude toward national and world problems Senator Taggart assumes not only the business man’s economy view but also has the humanitarian vision and the patriot’s ideal of American purpose. He declares we have thousands of American lives and some ten billions of dollars invested in civilization and in the application of the American idea. He would safeguard that investment by taking fair advantage of the one league which has been worked out by the nations. He realizes that it will not be possible in future achieve again that adjustment of international judgments which is asserted by the league covenant, a pact agreed upon just after the war under the urgent and compelling demand for peace which war’s horrors and losses had evoked. He would have America do what is needed to be done to help the world prevent new wars. In this he is practical and sincere., but over all, humanitarian in his demand that our boys shall not have died in vain and that the youth of America never again shall be sacrificed on the battlefield. All Classes Respond. The response to Mr. Taggart’s 192* appeal has been most impressive aqd gratifying. Everywhere from .all classes and all parties he is receiving hearty assurances of active support. His record as a good and true friend of labor; his achievement for the cause of lower* taxes and business methods in government; his good roads activities; his service to women and children and to education in support of good' laws; his proved qualities as a leader; his courage as a practical statesman; bis g'sonality and Btrong character —all ablne to give him strength* and to ure his election November 2.