The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-03-21
TAGGART KNOWN
Il AS SMILING BOSS

This despatch announces that Tag
CART has achieved what many hayt
Thought was his great ambition, to be
United States senatot. He was ap
pointed by GoTernor Ralstan to sue
ceed Senator Shively, who died recent
~. The other senator from Indiana Il
John w. Kern, Democratic nominee. foI
the vice president, in 1908. -
It is doubtful whether any lcgisla
ture of Indiana would haye dared elect
Taegart senator, and he probably Revel
could have received the popular vote
for the office, since senators now ar,
elected in that manner. By appointing
him, Governor Ralston unquestiOnably
has staked, his political future, and
perhaps has lost, for the appointment
will be a tremendous lever for the Re
politicians. ~ -. ~. "
Bourbon Boss Of Indiana .,.t.., ~
Enough could be written of Taggart
to FL an ordinary volume. He is Demo
cratic boss of Indiana; maker, SO tn,
opposition charged, of Governor Raj
ston, and, indeed, of Viee-Prasident
Marshall as well; principal owner OF
the great French Lick Springs (Indi
ana) Hotel; labeled as an unserupuloui
pc 'itician by his enemies, indicted, re
entity or completely in election frauds
and, withal, a man Of the most com
Pelling and charming personality. HI
will have five yeas to serve in tn,
senate. He is known as the "Smilinl
Boss. -
lie was born in County Monyhan
Ireland, November IL, 1856 After re
siding at Xenio, Ohio, and Garrett, n
iiana, he removed to Indianapolis II
1877. His biography passes lightly
over the years until he was elected au
ditor of Marion County, Indiana, ii
1886 but he was owner of the luncl
stand in the indianapolis union station
and il is stated for a truth in Dino,
street, Indianapolis, today that TIN,
food at Taggart s stand was second I,
none, and gradually he worked himself
up until he was in charge of the DEM
son hotel at Indianapolis, still head
quarters for the democracy of Indiana
Trouble Follows Expansion .. y 10
He expanded his hotel activit,e.
some seventeen years ago, taking ovel
the French Lick Springs Hotel. at tn,
well-knOwn watering place Of Orang,
county, Southern Indiana. PililSia cam,
soon. French Lick and West Baden
the twin resort mile away, wer,
gambling hells of the first order, anC
Republican state administration (fol
county officers would do nOthingl raid
ed the houses at the two places, which
were run by the notorious Ed Ballard
under lease from Taggart and Lee W
Sinclair, owner Of the West BadeI
Springs aotel. BY hook or crook, Tag
CART escaped, and proceedings begun
by the state to forfeit his hotel char
ter failed.
This pilikia cost him nothing. II,
has lost little or nothing. Despite the
bitter and eternal enmity Of the Indi
annapolis News, one Of the powerful pa
pers Of the whole country, Mr.. Taggari
retained ascendancy in In,liana politics
In 1912 he took his hand picked dele
cation to Baltimore, instructed fol-
Thomas r. Marshall, governor, of Indi
ana, for the presidency for which Mr.
Marshall had no chance in the world
but, as Indiana always has q favOrite
son, the delegation naturally was fol
the governor, and the ,ruse worked, fol-
MARSHALL was nominated for the vice
presidency, just as Charles W. Fair
banks was with Roosevelt in 1904. But
Of course, Indiana is a pivotal state. =
Indicted For Ele, tion frauds % III
Last year Mr., Taggaft was indicted
for election frauds in indianapolis IN
1914, together with Joseph +. Bell
mayor of Indianapolis, and others. but
whereas Dom Roberts, mayor of Tefrs
liaute, went to the federal penitentiary
at Learenworth, Kansas, Mr., Taggart
came free. t'.
Ar. Taggart was the object of bitter
attack ~ Nl'uum Jennings Bryan, in
the days when H,yuu as the voice In
the Wilderness of the Democratic party
AMI before be became secretary OF
state and former secretary Of state
With Mr.. Taggart as the object of Mr..
Bryan = attack was Roger Sullivan
Democratic boss Of Illinois, Again
there was no piikia. Although both
Governor Marshall and Governor Rails,
ton, elected in l0l2, were regarded as
stamped with the Taggart mark, they
commanded respect for all that.
UnquestionabIY there win be fury in
certain newspaper Offices over the ap,
'RoiRtulent Of Mr.. Taggart.. Even last
night many editorial writer's must have
been Iamentng the low estate of the
senate.
Mr.. Taggart may DO depended upon
TO be strirtIy regular at all times. lie
is party man of the first magnitude.
Has Compelling Personality
But he is a man of compelling person
ality. Few men, so critic zsd as he was
been, have retained so faithful per
..-. .. .