The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-07
MIR. TAGGART SHOULD BE BEATEN.

Two years ago about a thousand Repub-
licans and all the independents voted for
Mr.. Taggart on the ground that he was a
good enough mayor. More than thousand
Republicans did not vote at ALL 1t is diff
ferent this year. Up TO the election of 1897
Mr.. Taggart, desiring reelection. held him
self in check. None of the scandals which
disclosed the efforts made TO attach to the
original park system lands belonging TO the
mayor were credited. The purchase of the
present park site from his Democratic
friends at twice its market value was not
even proposed at the time Mr.. Taggart was
reelected. These matters are now well I'M
derstood. and because they are. few If any
Republicans independents will vote for
Mr.. Taggart on Tuesday who so voted two
years ago, while Republicans who did not
vote in 1897 will vote the Bookwalter ticket
this year.
There are ample reasons for this change
of sentiment. During his administration
Mayor Taggart has caused the bonded debt
Of the city proper to be increased $4,000.
for which ne has nothing to show but a
police station and few hundred acres of
land for which he paid his Democratic
friends more than twice as much as it
could be sold for to-day. He purchased this
land without resorting to the provision of
law giving him full power to compel the
owners to accept a fair price. He sacrificed
the city to a few rich friends. He had
not done this two years ago and he would
| not have done it the past year had he ex-
pected at that time to be candidate for a
| third term.
Another reason for voting against Mr..
Taggart is that the current city expendi-
lures have increased from s4.74 per capita
| in 1895 to s6.s2 in 1898. The current expendi
| lures in 1898 were s1s1.OOO in excess of those
| Of the last year Of Mayor Denny-an in
crease of almost "a per cent. There is little
| to show for this increase Another reason
| for voting against the mayor is that he is
| to indianapolis what Boss Croker is to New
York-the whole thing. Thomas Taggart is
| the government of Indianapolis. The Coun-
! Gill; which should be Independent, is his:
| the boards do his bidding, and the power
! he has assumed he uses for himself and
few friends.
The mayor himself. however, furnishes
| the best reason why he should be beaten.
He has been In the canvass six weeks. To
promote his election he has in the past two
months spent 5000 upon an increase of ex-
penses of the street gang. He has made
| forty speeches and although his attention
| has been frequently called to the park pur-
chase transaction he has made no answer
| which is an admission of all the charges
made against him in that connection. Peo-
| pie believe that 1t was a deal in which the
| city had no representation, and they believe
| il because of the mayors conduct.
| Another reason for voting against Mr..
| Taggart which he furnishes is his trivial
| conduct in trying to make gas meters an
| issue when he knows, and every intelligent
man knows, that there is not the least
| danger that such an ordinance can be
passed. He has talked of little else. showing
| that he dare not attempt TO refute the
| charges against him. For these and many
other reasons Mr.. Taggart should be
| beaten.