Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-28
TOM TAGGART
TO THE BAR
The Genial Irishman Must Now Take
Serious View of Charges Of
Political Corruption, for the
Cleanup Has Reached Him.
By IRWIN L. GORDON

| hdblsT BhnBmhIt one or tne greatest pOllLl
cal wizards the Middle West has ever pro
duced, the adroit manipulation of the Demo
cratic party. today faces annihllation in hi
State Of Indiana.
Tom Taggart, former National chalrmai
of the Democratic party, present Nationa
Committeeman from his State who for
decade has made Senator's Congressman
Governors and virtually every officer Of In
diana, is accused by a Grand Jury of felony
and a other election crimes. Arrested las
Tuesday, he is today released under $t0
ball.
The country will withhold comment upor
the personal guilt Of Thomas Taggart. He
will receive every opportunity to prove his
innocence OF participation in the election
crimes at Indianapolis. The country, how
ever, knows that the Taggart machine has
been notorious Tho arrest of virtually every
! Taggart lieutenant in Indianapolis, including
the Mayor Of the city, the heads Of several
departments and the ward leaders, justihes
the dlsrepute in which the machine has been
| held
Tracing Fraud to It's Source
A series of articles which appeared in the
EVENING LEDGER, exposing the political
frauds at Terre Haute, called attention to the
fact that the real heads of the Indiana ma
chine had escaped the Government probe.
Tom Taggart's political fate was sealed
however, when the United States Govern
ment placed under arrest ia Of his hench-
men in Terre Haute, and later sent more
than 100 convicted of conspiracy to serve sem
tences in Fort Leavenworth.
While 1t was the National Government
which prosecuted the Taggart machine in
Terro Haute and collected the evidence
against the leader and his associates, the ac-
tlon in Indianapolis has been taken by the
Marion County Grand Jury. This has prob
baly been due to the fact that the majority
of the frauds alleged to have been COM
mittcd in Indianapolis where bitter fight
was being waged to capture the county and
municipal offices.
Indianapolis saw the same political game
played in the same way as in Terre Haute.
A bipartisan combination traded in votes,
collected a huge slush fund, stuffed ballot
boxes, fraudulently registered votes on the
Indiana polling machines, faxed registration
books and voted thousands of repeaters.
Thuggery, intimidation police protection and
liquor played their parts. The Taggart out
fit ruled throughout the city.
Thomas TaggRrt was born in Ireland in
1856. When a youth he came to this coun-
try and settled in Xenia, o. Later he moved
to Richmond, and then to Garrett, Ind. In
dianapos first saw him in 1877. The lads
first position was that of q waiter at n rail-
road lunch counter History has it that his
genial disposition, his wit, thrift and in
defatigable energy soon lifted him from the
ranks of the servers into those of the pro-
prietors. The future boss of the Middle
West became owner of a third-rate establish
ment which he metamorphosed into first
class restaurant He always had the ability
to make money and to keep 1t. His res
taurant enlarged into hotel. and before the
people of Indianapolis knew IT this Irish i'm
migrant was part owner and then proprietor
of the Grand Hotel.
From Lunch Counter to Politics
Even in the lunch-counter days Taggart
had a leaning toward politics. He had q
peculiar facility for lining up and taking
care of "the boys" Like all true politicians
he stuck to his friends. This trait was ex-
emplifled last week, following his arrest. He
Immediately secured his own release, but re-
fused to leave the city until he had arranged
nearly 100000 ball for "the boys" as he eX-
pressed It, He first ran for office as County
Auditor in the early SOS. For years Marion
County had been Republican. Taggart, the
smiling Irishman. carried 1t by 1900. In 1883
he became County Chairman, and showed his
leadership in the county, carrying It for
Cleveland, despite the fact that Indianapolis
was Harison's home city
In 1895 Taggart nominated himself for
Mayor. Two years before. Denny, Republi-
can, had won by $500. Taggart carried In
dianapolis by $500. In 1896 the city gave Nc
Kinley 5000 majority, but in the following
year Taggart was again elected by ma
jority of 47OO He was reelected in 1sss but
refused to run fourth time During these
years the Taggart organization was con-
structed cog by cog throughout the State
From those days to the present Senators,
Congressman Governors, county and State
officials have been made and unmads by this
man. He even has been fairly successful
with the Vice Presidency.
OF course, the politician was not overlook
ing any financial bets. He together with
Crawford Fairbanks, monsy-bags OF the
Terre Haute organization built the French
Lick Hotel. known as the American Monte
Carlo" ana reputed 10 be the finest hotel in
the country. Recently he is said 70 have re-
fused an offer OF sa,O00,0OO for the place
Franchises, banks trust companies. land
deals and hotel speeulations have netted him
millions,
This man finally became State Chairman.
then National Committeeman. In 1904 he
was elected chairman OF the National Demo-
cratic Committee. II was he who conducted
the Parker fight The entire party reeog-
mixed his political sagaeity. II may be said
that In the Bryan days while Taggart al
ways supported hin he was never an enthu-
siast. 1t made little difference who won the
national State or county tiekets-Taggart
remained on top IN his state Following the
defeat OF Judge Parker, Taggart did not take
an active part IN national politics for many
years Al the Baltimore convention he sup
ported Champ Clark until all hope was absn-