The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-09-20
Governor Perfectly Willing to
Help Old Boss Retire From
Activities in Democratic
Party.
LORD OF FRENCH LICK
Is NO LONGER USEFUL
And Chief Executive Thinks
That the Party Can Pro-
gress Much Better Without
Old Chief.
palladium Specially

palladium Specially
Indianapolis. Sent. e0.-Tom Tag.
gart has been quoted here rs declar.
ing that he wished to retire from &C
tive participation in democratic poli-
tics OF the state and devote his entire
attention to his large business inter.
ests.
And there Is q general understand.
Ing that Taggart Is about to be helped
along In this wish by Governor Mar.
shall and some more of the democra-
tic leaders of the state who believe
that the party In Indiana should be In
new hands instead " remaining under
the thumb Of Taesart and his crowd.
In fact 1t IL well known that Cover
nor Marshall is one of the crowd that
is seeking to bring about q thorough
reorganization OF the democratic party
In Indiana by electing members of the
state committee who will give all fac
tions OF the party a square deal. n
they persist In this effort which they
are making 1t will mean the end oe
Tom Taggart as the democratic boss
OF the state.
~0O0SS - NIGH W00s
Taggart Is a rich man. He has largo
property holdings in Indianapolis. I'm.
cluding q lions share of the Deuison
hotel. one OF the best paying hotels
In the middle west. In addition he
Ii the chief owner Of the vast French
Lick Springs Hotel company's prop
erty at French Lick. property which
could not be bought for a million dol.
lars. His French Lick hotel makes q
fortune each year. and It demands
most of Taggart's Time TagKart IL
interested also In many other institu-
ttons. all Of which make money.
Therefore. II he has been quoted cor
rectly about wishing to retire from
active political life 1t would not be SUR
prfsing to those who are in close touch
with him.
But 1t seems to strange to be true
Tom Taggart out of the political
game. The old hands at the game can.
not conceive Indiana politics without
Taggart being in II. For years he has
had the upper hand Of the party I'm
Marion county and whenever any man
wished to run for office 1t was his
first duty to see Taggart and get his
approval. A political party never was
in a closer grasp Of one man than the
democratic party in Indianapolis has
been in the grasp Of Taggart
A Politician For Years.
Taggart has been auditor OF Marion
county two terms and mayor Of In
dfanapolis several times, and there
ho
twenty years when Taggart could not
have had the nomination for anything
In the power of the democratic party
In Indianapolis. And for almost al
many years he has controlled the state
party machinery to such an extent
that he has been the master This
condition In the state continued until
last year, when Taggart was licked by
Tom Marshall. Taggart and his fol-
lowers were for Samuel NJ Ralstou, OF
Lebanon, for the democratic nomina-
ton for governor. and when the con-
vention opened Ralston was the lead
er. He had more votes than any other
candidate. with L. Ert Slack second.
Marshall only had a handful Of votes.
But Slack gained on Ralston and after
the fifth ballot. even though Ralston
was still in the lead. Taggart pulled
Ralston out of the race to keep Slack
from being nominated. and he threw
all Of the Ralston vote to MarshaIl and
Marshall was nominated. Taggart did
not want Marshall He wanted Rails
ton. But Marshall worked his wires
with such smooth skill th4f he forced
Taggart to come to him. He did mot
go to Taggart. and he has NOT been 90.
ing to him since he was elected guver.
nor.
Ts00art Was Routed.
Then this summer here In the mu-
nicipal campaign Taggart's candidate
for the nomination for mayor was do
feated by an overwhelming vote Tag
CART was routedI horse. foot and drar
goon, and the other branch Of the
| party won. This was the fIrst time
Taggart was ever licked good and
proper by his own party in his own
town.
A good many who have been watch
ing things and Who have heard the
report that TA&gart wishes to retire
believe that these two defeats have
had much TO do with his deeiajon To
drop out of tie gnme. II ~ has rsaeh-
ed such . decisioa- They poin9 out
that he II probably settling Ssa1y to
retire voluntarily before tie Other 1ea-
lows put him down and 0ut entirely.
On the other hand. there are many
who remember former oceasjooS whea
TagNFt has said he va going to n.