The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-07-28


organization. election a few Aldermen
from time to time, but Democratic
success on the county ticket were rare.
In 1886 there was a nomination for the
authorship to be decided upon. No
Democrat of any consequence In the
county would look at it. There ap-
peared to be no chance for the nominee.
The convention met, and Thomas Tag
CART. the young Democrat who kept a
hotel said he would take the nominal
ton If nobody else wanted it, Indeed,
he had planned to get it some months
ahead, and had lot of delegates ready
to vote for him.
Let him have it, said the leaders.
TT is better that he should be de-
feated than one of us
Taggart was nominated UNANIMOUSLY.
Then the Republican papers in the cit!
poked fun at the yong Irishman. who
was sure to be beaten, and the older
Democrats told one another 1t would be
good lesson for him. Taggart went
out in the country and canvassed the
city. He had made many friends among
the young men. He called them all into
his campaign.
His First Office.
He was elected. That $4,000 Job
gave him his start. Two years later
in 1883. after he had been made Chair
man of the Democratic County Com
mittee, he carried Marion County
against Benjamin Harrison, which was
an amazing thing, Is Harrison lived in
Indianapolis and Marion County had
gone Republican in every Presidential
campaign since 1856.
No False Modesty.
He served until 1894. all tie time
making friends in Indiana. He was
chosen Chairman of the Democratic
State Committee in 1892 and served
for four years. He had been Chairman
of the City Committee and had helped
twice to elect Judge Sullivan as May
or. The people in the State had come
to look on him as a skilful as well as
a lucky" politician. He was ambit-
ious. and he is yet. He concealed
those ambitions under no false pre-
lenses. After he had finished his
cond term as Auditor he stepped out
In the open and said he would like the
nomination for Mayor of indianapolis.
went to work in the wards and was
nominated. He was elected in 1895 ana
reelected twice after that, serving
Mayor until 1901. His first plurality
was 1922. Taggart had gone on tho
National Democratic Committee and had
supported Bryan in 1896. indianapolis
gave Mckinley a plurality of 5000 over
Bryan, Taggart's first recollection as
Mayor followed, his majority being
over 1000 He was elected a third time
by about the same plurality two years
later.
In 1900 Taggart continued on the
Democratic National Committee. In
diana was a Bryan State. There are
still in that State many Democrats vino
are as loyal to Bryan as they were in
1896 and 1900 So good an authority
as John w Kern says that the proper
ton is 80 or 80 per cent, of the total
Democratic vote. Taggart was "rcgu-
lar" in both the Bryan compaigns. He
did his best to elect Bryan.
Then He Dropped Bryan.
Then. after the sefOnd Bryan COM
paign. he refused to be bound any
longer by the theories of the twice de-
feated leader. He said the Democrat tic
party was not to be restricted by the
Kansas City platform and he went to
the Washington meeting of the Demo-
cratic National Committee on Jar. -
last to help in the selection of a n
s"rvntivc candidate.
Taggart was early identified with the
Parker forces. Shortly after the Jan
Jury meeting of the committee he had
conference with William F. Shcehan
and the other Parker Managers in New
York, and on his return to Indiana
went to work to get that State for
Parker. He had a stiff fight on his
hands, for William r. Hearst had in
vaded the State and had secured J.
Oscar Henderson, an Indianapolis Dem
ocrat of some prominence. who had
himself been auditor of Marion County
to head his campaign. In addition, NJ
F. Dunlop. the Treasurer of the Dem
ocratic National Committee, came over
from Illonis and began work for
Hearst.
His Work for Parker.
TaSEart turned in a general alarm
He went to all the leading Democrats
of the State and told them that Hearst
must not get the delegates. They
agreed He lined up John Kern. Lamb.
Menzies. Shivcley and all the rest They
all helped. Taggart directed the cam
paign. Hearst made a great noise aud
spent much money Two Jays before
the indianapolis Convention Taggart
sent a message to the East. through
The World. that Parker woul dgct the
delegation, that the unit rule would BE-
applied, and that there would be no
Hearst men on the list.
He knew what he was talking about
indeed. his control of that convention
showed the thorough methods of the
man. Every detail had been thought
o IL. Every man had his part to play.
He selected Alonzo Greene Smith. noted
thor .i;Kh, ut the State for mis- COURAGE
and as q sKiIled presiding officer. to
preside. He did not go into the question
of a platform at all. What he wanted
was to get a Parker delegation and
he got one.
Good Guess.
He sat inconspicuously on the steps
of the stage during the convention.
How long will it LAST" he was ask
ed just Is the opening prayer was be-
ing said.
-Four hours" TagEart replied
1t lasted four hours and ten minutes.
At the end of that time Indiana had IN
structed for Parker, applied the unit |
rule and had Endorsed Taggart for Ma |
tional Chairman. Thos Indiana in |
struction for Parker came at that criti-
cal time in May when the Parker mama |
gers had not made much public pro- |
gress. 1t was hailed in the East as |
helping, in a great measure. to estab- |
fish the Pcrker sentiment.
Taggart went to st. Louis and was at |
once put in the confidence of the East |
ern Parker leaders. He was active. He |
helped materially in the final work of |
organization that brought about Par !
kers nomination on the first ballot All !
that time he was making no secret of |
his desire to manage Parker's cam |
paign. His warmenst partisan. outside :
of the men from his own state. was
and is Senator Joseph w. Bailey of |
Texas, Senator Bailey organized m, !