The Savannah morning news., 1904-08-07
Chairman Taggart's ways.

Mr.. Taggart is perhaps the only poll
tician in this country who ever had the
audaoity to stand up in public and de-
nounce himself as a liar, says the
Washington correspondence of the
Richmond Times Dispatch. And he did
IL when he was Mayor of Indianapolis
and in doing it he evoked the admira-
ton of the people of that city and in
cidentally, furnished ar interesting side
light TO the character of one of the
most picturesque political leaders in
the Union.
The incident is vividly remembered
by politicians in Indiana and is not
forgotten by many newspaper men
throughout the country. When Tag
CART was running for the office Of May
or of Indianapolis, Taggart made a
promise which he realized. after his
election, he could not honorably re-
deem. He wasn't the first man who
had ever been placed in such a posi-
ton. James A. Garfield, after he was
elected President, was confronted by a
similar problem, and he solved it by
declaring that the moment a man was
elected to the presidency of the United
States he became politically insolvent
and had the right to wipe the slate
clean. Tom Taggart didn't go into the
Garfield had gone, but he reached a
conclusion that was characteristic of
the man. A delegation waited upon
him at the City Hall in Indianapolis
and reminded him of his obligation to
them. The spokesman told him that
he had promised a representative of a
certain medical organization that GER
tain things would be done, and that
he was expected to make good
Tor nv.% 49, -
long as he could, but finally, when
driven to his corner, turned upon the
spokesman Of. the delegation and said:
Did make that promise?"
You certainly did, Mr.. Mayor" said
a member of the delegation. "You
promised that you would do this for
our society, and you ought to keep
your word"
"Well, look here" said Taggart 81
guess 1 did make that promise.
meant to keep it when 1 made it, but
conditions are such I can't redeem it.
Tom Taggart, the individual, and Tom
Taggart, the Mayor of Indianapolis
are two different persons. so you go
back to your society and tell them
that the Mayor of Indianapolis says
that Tom Taggart is a liar"
And that settled it. THAT was Tom
Taggart all over" said every one who
knew him when the incident was talk
ed about in Indianapolis and through
out Indiana. He's the most resource
full man in getting out of difficulties
ever known in this state"
Two years ago Taggart confided to
friend the secret of his success in life,
and especially his success in politics.
Il have got ahead because I always
attend to my business from beginning
to end" And he elaborated that idea,
showing how it was that from a boy
washing dishes in a restaurant at the
age of IA at Xenia, o., he rose steadily
to he millionaire and a formidable
force in American politics.
Life is too short for quarrels," he
said. There is no sense in making en-
emies in politics. 1t doesn't pay in
the long run, and we might just as
well have a. good time here on earth
and enjoy ourselves while we are go
ing along. I have made it a rule i'll
politics always to bear in mind the
fact that the other fellow has just as
much right to his opinions as l have
to mine. Lots of people want to scrap
with the opposition, and then, when
they win, they want TO punish their
enemies. That never pays. The best
way is to ignore them, and in the end
they will appreciate the value of your
actions and opinions. 1 have been in
politics for fifteen years and 1 have
never punished any one who opposed
me and l have never paid any atten-
ton to threats. Brave men don't re-
sort to threats and only towards are
influenced by them"