The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-28


Since Thomas Taggart was nominated for
mayor in the heat of summer his cause has
lost much of that jaunty assurance which
his claquers assumed. All of them who
have political sense have ceased to go about
the streets talking Taggart walkover.
Only few are saying that tom Taggart
is the best mayor Indianapolis ever had
convince that hearer that they know a
great deal better.
At first Mr.. Taggart's advocates went
forth valiantly declaring that Mr.. Taggart's
administration has been one of business.
Tom" they told us, lis not an orator, be-
cause he is literally stuffed so full of bust
ness that there is no room in him for a
speech" Then the curious began to look
for the business. They discovered at the
outset that the expenses of the street-re-
pair bureau the week before the Taggart
primaries were more than double those of
ordinary periods This certainly was "busi-
ness" probably a thrifty business for the
Taggart regime, but not the sort that COM
mends mayor to taxpayers.
The inquirers next came up against the
suspended park system, our suspended gar
dens of Babylon, minus the gardens, but
plus $S5OOO0 of borrowed money. upon which
interest is being paid. There is no end of
gossip about land purchases or contracts
and few crooked transactions to insure
Council vote for the bonds. An assessment
was made for the construction of the park
system, but it was recalled or suspended
when the assessed got information of the
assessments. To-day no man will
tell the boundaries of the suspended park
system. Many everyday taxpayers can
not see any marvellous quality of business
in this. Nor do they regard the increase
of the current expenditures of the city
nearly IA per cent. over the last Denny year
as a striking evidence of the sort Of
business which is essential to business
like administration of the affairs of a city,
These, with other things, have eliminated
the claims of a business administration
in the words of a dead but once famous
person, where the woodbine twineth."
And now comes the affair of the police
The force has been increased and costs
more than ever, but under the Taggart
regime it has been demoralized. 1t could
not be otherwise, when one of it's duties has
been to promote the sale of the beer of the
syndicate of Mr.. Taggart's friends and sup
press that of others The superintendent
conduct has opened the eyes of the people
to the condition of the police force and
those of the Cox faction to the designs of
the friends of the mayor Here is another
great loss.
And yet all is not lost. The Taggart
smile remains. OF late it is of a sickly cast
mot so expansive and persuasive as it was
six weeks ago, when his Honor was the
personification of the smile beatific. OF
late the smile has become burden. AS
some excellent people are reported to have
done with their halos, Mr.. Taggart removes
his smile when he retires at night and
hangs it up with his clothes Still he wears
the smile in public. 1t is wan and worn
and a trif1e battered but Mr. Taggart still
clings to it as the last hope of the cam
paign. "All is lost save honor" French
man or somebody else is reported to have
exclaimed. "All is lost save the smile is
the comforting remark of the little knots
of Taggartites, as they sorrowfully gaze
upon the wreck of the early campaign
equipment.