The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-18
RESULTS OF THE KEACH-TAGGART
CONTEST.

The result of the Keach-Taggart contest
is gain for the Democratic party, for Mr..
Reach and for his prospective candidate
FOR mayor and il is loss for Messrs. Tag
CART. Tanning, Kern and Bell. 1t is a gain
for decent politics and incidentally for good
government when a rebellion of the rank
and file OF a party against machine politics
and boss-rule is successful. To that extent
therefore. the local Democracy gain some
thing in prestige. If nothing more, by the
successful revolt against one-man power
and bossism that had lasted much too long
Mr.. Taggart's regime had not only become
odious to the people, but IL had planted the
seeds of revolt which only needed de-
termined and capable leader to succeed.
The conditions were ripe before the leader
appeared. and when, Mr.. Reach declared
political war against the Taggart machine
he soon had all the followers he wanted.
A weaker man might not have received
such prompt and effective support. but Mr..
Reach showed from the beginning that he
had both the courage and the ability to
lead thu revolt The result is a victory
which places him at once at the head OF
local Democratic leaders. 1t remains to
be seen what kind Of a machine he will
construct and what kind of a boss he will
make.
Mr.. Taggart's defeat is as pronounced
and conspicuous as Mr.. Keach's victory.
The words crushing and overwhelming
seem to be applicable. No political leader
or boss ever had greater faith in his star
and luck than Mr.. Taggart has had. He had
won so many victories and had his way so
| long that he had come to consider himself
| invincib'e. OF course, he expected to win
| in this contest. If he had thought there
was any probability of defeat he would
| not have engaged in it. He had no busi-
ness TO engage in it. Having been honored
by his party almost beyond his deserts and
occupying a place on the national COM
mittee. he should have kept out of a local
| contest Of this Kind His defeat illustrates
the old proverb Of the pitcher going to the
we'll once too often. He had plenty of good
excuses for retiring temporarily from local
| politics, but he was not wise enough to
| use them. His star, that he had followed
wrong direction and lured him to defeat.
| His machine is shattered and his prestige is
gone. He is no longer power in politics.
If he continues in politics at all hereafter.
instead of issuing orders he win have to
| take them from Mr.. Reach. OF course,
Mr.. Taggart's tools and fgureheads go
| down with him. Mr.. Kern was forced
into the contest much against his wishes
and only consented at last as a good party
man to become the Taggart machine candi-
| date for chairman of the committee. He is
much too good a man to have been sacri-
| feed in that way. but having taken his
| place in the Taggart boat he shares in the
| for the Taggart machine, and must suffer
the consequences. He would have made
fairly good Democratic candidate for mayor
had he not allowed himself to be tarred
with the Taggart stick. and even shown
pleasure In the operation. Mr.. Tanning
contributes to the completeness of the gen.
| eral 1aying. To use a homely adage, 1.-THE
tail goes with the hide" There never was
| more complete rout in politics.
| Mr.. Reach will be In a position to rem
der service to his party and perhaps to the
public. He knows by experience what Tag
| gartism IL, and he should try and get rid
of that without substituting something as
bad or worse. AS business man he knows
that municipal affairs are not always man.
| aged on business principles. and he may
find himself In . position to do something
towards reform In that direction. He has
| an elephant on his hands. and 1t remains to
| be seen what he will do with It.