The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1912-05-03
THOMAS TAGGART
Ills Relation to the Dem
ocratic Party in
Indiana

mus it is seen that Mr. Taggart i
in no sense a hanger-on. He is no
interested in politics to obtain plac
or subsistence. He is not a burdel
on the party, nor is he a failure i
his lifes work. He is a Democra
and In his work for the party he ha
put behind it the same matches
erergy and aggressiveness that hav
aracterized his other endeavors
and, like any man who does something
he has drawn the fire of the enem,
and the broadsides that have beer
turned loose upon him only testify Il
| his effectiveness and the success thai
attends his efforts.
Beginning his political career also
In indianapolis he maintained that
steady growth that finally moved him
up from precinct committeeman to
Auditor OF Marion county and finally
Mayor for two terms of Indianapolis,
Gave First Signs of Great City.
In the administration of these Offices
he observed the law strictly and to
his credit 1T can be said that Marion
county, in SO far as the Auditors Of
ffce is concerned, never had a better
administration and no charge or sus-
plclon was ever directed toward any
OF his official acts. Under his admin
lstration as mayor of Indianapolis the
city took on its first signs of a great
city and the impetus given it by the
two terms Of Mr.. Taggart remain with
it to this day, and Indianapolis dates
the time it began to be city from the
time Thomas Taggart took the reins
OF government of city affairs.
A successful man begets Jealousy.
even in the ranks of those who ought
to be his friends, and Mr.. Taggart
was no exception to the rule. Demo-
Gratis In Indianapolis sought to rob
him of his we'll earned leadership and
they found ready sponsors in the
Republican press and the so-called
independent papers. When the In
dianapolis News undertook to use
Mr.. Taggart, as il has other public Of
fcials of the city and county, it was
repuised and even with its promise of
support and painting of fields of glory
Tor the future, was told to get behind
me, Satan, and since then it has been
the unrelenting enemy of his and in
MIN 1t has found an adversary worthy
Of its steel.
Politics in cities Is much different
than In the country districts. Means
are employed there that would not be
tolerated in the rural districts, and in
his contests Mr.. Taggart applied the
rule OF fighting the devil with fire.
The demands OF the hour have caused
him to do things that do not meet the
approval of even his friends, just as
your wife, your pastor or your child.
He has used whatever force was nee
essary TO combat the force used
against him, but never when it was
not In the interest OF the Democratic
party. Whatever may be charged
against Mr.. Taggart, no one has ever
questioned his loyalty to his party. He
has given freely OF his time, his en-
srgy and his money to further its In
erests and never with the hope of Of
ice or political preferment. Other
men havef contributed heavily I'm
speech and in writing and made sac
'ifices for its success, but no Demo-
rat in Indiana has been looked to.as
earnestly as has Mr.. Taggart in the !
'ast twenty years when hard work
vas to be done and campaign ex- 9
lenses were to be met.
Believes In Principles Of Democracy. $
The Democracy of the state has no. Y
iced and appreciated his valiant work O
nd for many years he has been the v
indiana member of the National Dem
cratic committee. The Democracy
the nation has also honored him
Y making him chairman of the Ma ;,
onal Democratic committee and In
hat work he put the same energy and :,
Kill as be dM in bringing up his pre- .
met in good shape in Indianapolis.
He has his opinions and ideas of y
arty policy and party declaration.
ist as any OF Us have He contends :,
'r them and II he Is successful he :,
lories in his triumphs, as any other
an, and II he is beaten he is always
lady to take up the work that his :,
arty lays out and never in all his :.
lreer was he known to sulk in his =,
mt or fail to contribute TO his party. W
lccesA T.
In the dark days of the party in g,
ldiana Thomas Taggart was always.
e inspiration-the man who saw the u,
light SIDE OF everything-sand Kept v
S-A--