The Washington herald., 1907-12-29
by DEXTER MARSHALL.

The world VIII not lack for big work,
and consequent interesting reading mat
ter in the daily newspapers in the year
of our Lord 1905.
At home just one of the big tasks is the
election of a President. and the determi-
nation thereby of the countrys political
and economic policies for the ensuing four
years Every well-informed American
can call up plenty of other big work head
for him and his $1,000, OOO-odd compatriots
the railroads, the trusts, the canal,
finances, the Philippines, the navy, the
japanese treaty, not to run the entire
gamut.
Officially, our biggest and most impor-
tant task VIII be started by two men who
are in nowise connected with the present
government, in that they do not hold
Office under it, They are Harry c. New
and Thomas Taggart, chairmen, respec-
lively, of the Republican and Democratic
National committees.
Temperamentally and by training. New
and Taggart are as unlike as day and
night, yet the careers Of the two national
chairmen show an unusually long and in
teresting string Of condolences.
Both Indiana Editors.
While New was born in 1888. two years
after Taggart first raised his hearty laugh
in Ireland, he also became head Of the
Republican National Committee two
years after Taggart captured his head
ship of the Democratic party. Taggart
was in his twenty-second year when he
married and New was twenty-five when
he married his first wife. Each man has
been the head Of an Indianapolis daily
newspaper. and each paper is now de-
funct. Each began his political career
In the Hoosier capital, and has made
that city the headquarters Of his political
activity.
New has been a member OF the Repub-
Hcan National Committee since 1900. and
Taggart of the Democratic committee
since the same year. Both men live on
North Capitol avenue indianapolis; their
houses are only a few squares apart and
so they might be called neighbors Mrs
New advises and helps her husband in
his political life; Mrs. Taggart's tact and
good common sense more than once have
been of great aid 10 her spouse IN his
political campaigns. Neither man Is like
" 10 wake up some morning and find the
wolf licking his chops on the front door
steps.
Each man really began his LIES work
I'm Indianapolis. Taggart moved there the
year he was married, and soon had a job
as a waiter in the restaurant in the Union
Railroad Station. When New came out of
Butler College a year or two later, he was
fr.Fa n -
newspaper. Two years later he became
the papers manager, and his political
career may be said 10 date from that pro-
motion. He, therefore. preceded Taggart
IN the political field by two or three years,
for II was not until 1856 that Tom" as
everybody in Indianapolis had learned TO
call Taggart by that time began TO see
the great possibility Of fun, which his
nature had always cTaved, in the game OF
politics. That year Taggart was elected
auditor Of Marion County. Ten years later
New got his first elective Office. being
sent TO the Indiana senate. He served
there from 1896 10 1900. and during that
time Taggart was mayor Of indianapolis.
being elected in 1885 and quitting the post
IN 1901 1t was while they were holding
these Offices that the two men came to
represent their State on the national COM
mittees-
News Father I'm Politics.
While Taggart had to make his own
way from the start, with his smile and
jokes and good nature generally as his
only assets. New had the backing of his
father from the beginning. At the time
that his son was beginning his political
activity John c. New was Assistant Sec
rotary of the Treasury under Arthur;
previously he had been Treasurer Of the
United States under Grant, and. in 1889. he
became consul general at London by
grace of President Harrison. The name of
New has been a power in Indiana politics
since the late sos. when the father be-
came clerk Of the courts of Marion Coun-
~. in which the capital is situated. The
Taggart political dynasty has yet to be
founded.
Thus. while New took naturally to poll
tics because -of his father. Taggarts noted
smile was the primary cause of getting
him started in the same seductive game.
He had begun dispensing his smile in 1877.
when he located in Indianapolis and Sc
cured that Job as railroad restaurant
waiter Nine years later. by which time
he was running the restaurant, his smile
had won him thousands Of friends, among
whom were practically all the railroad
men making Indianapolis. and who swore
90 the emissaries of the Democratic man
ayers, looking for a popular man. that
they would vote for Tom Taggart for any
Office regardless Of party. So Taggart
was nominated for county auditor, ran
2,O60 votes ahead Of his colleagues, car
Tied the whole ticket through with him.
and gave the Democrats of the county
their first victory in years.
In the twenty-one years that have
passed since then Taggart's smile has
brought him political prominence IN his
state and the nation, national promi-
nence as a health resort owner. million
or two of dollars, according TO the esti-
mates Of friends. and probably more
personal friends in Indiana than any other
man of his day and generation
Has Picturesque Career.t
As Taggart had to make his way from
the day he landed from Ireland, his ca
reer is naturally more picturesque than
News. New. however. while far differ
ent In his methods. as well as his make
up, is every bit as shrewd a politician as
Taggart. and his name is as we'll known
throughout the length and breadth OF In
diana. It would be difficult to name a
cross roads in the State where he has not
stumped. and while by nature he is not
so genial as Tom Taggart (Toms gelial-
ity IS Of the rare and heaven-sent sort),
he IS warm enough of heart to have made
numerous friends and admirers all over
Hoosierdom.
England has its full shade of far-reach-
ing work ahead. The numerous treaties