The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1920-10-22
THOMAS TAGGART
TIE MAN
Taxpayers Economy Candidate
for Senator Rune en- His
Record.

Thomas Taggart was born in 1855
IN County Monaghan. Ireland. His
people were small farmers. poor.
hard working folks. coming to Amer
lea as steerags passengers in 1861.
The Taggsrts left part OF the family
on the "Ould Sod" to be sent for
when the money could be earned to
pa for their ocean passage.
At Xenia. Ohio. Thomas Taggart.
aged six, began his career as an earn
er with bootblack's kit and as a news
boy. At eleven he was chore boy in
the depot restaurant. At seventeen
he had advanced to clerk" at IS per
week. In 1875 he was sent to Gar
rett, Ind, to open new eating house
for his employers. In 1877 he ar
rived in indianapolis at the Union
Depot hotel.
Wins Early Success.
His success as a superintendent Of
this establishment, and the persC nal
contact with all kinds OF people de-
veloped for Tom Taggart a populari-
ty which attracted political leaders
who sought new material for
strengthening their forces AS early
as 1884 Young Taggart was urged to
run for Office. He declined.
Taggart's early ventures in pon-
tics were made to help friends His
first battle was fought to elect
friend who was being double
Indianapolis
In 1886 he was induced to run for
county auditor. He was nominated.
In Republican county he was
elected by a 1898 plurality. His
genius for victory was noted and his
party drafted Taggart to serve as
county chairman. In 1888, a presi-
Dental year, with an indianapolis.
man, Gen. Benjamin Harrison, as the
Republican Presidential nominee,
Tom Taggart's organization genius
had its severest test. His party car
ried Marion county by 800 and the
feat attracted national attention.
Makes Business Record.
Running on his business record,
Tom Taggart was reelected county
auditor in 1890 by 5000 and more He
resigned in 1895 to take Office as
mayor of Indianapolis, and there
served three terms. declining
fourth. His record as mayor rend-
cred him unbeatable. His economics,
his constructive policies, his vision
and foresight, the efficiency or his
chosen helpers, and his personal
popularity, ever increasing, made him
positive factor in Indiana politics.
He gave Indianapolis parks, good
streets, sewers, sidewalks, fire pro-
lection and safety measures. all at
lowered cost and enhanced values.
Indianapolis was administered at a
and her debt was next to the lowest
among similar municipalities Tag
CART applied then the budget princi
pie. he today continues to urge in
business. public and private.
Always Builder.
AS a business man Thomas Tag
CART took the lead, building from
poverty by hard work and fair
economy methods until he occupies
q prominent place among the success.
full builders in the national field.
Tom Taggart has earned a leading
place as an agriculturist. His extern
sive acres In Orange county, Indiana,
have been personally managed by Mr..
Taggart. His dairy herds lead the
state In productivity. His pure bred
swine and egg-laying fowls are
famous.
AS producer Tom Taggart has
studied the highway needs Of Indi-
ana. His active part In good roads
campaigns led to his appointment on
an Indiana highway commission, and
he toured the state to aid the high
way movement.
Useful Citizen.
Citizen Taggart has always con-
tinued TO be factor In public az
fairs. Indiana schools owe Tom Tag
CART real debt OF praise In 1913
enlisted for the schools by leaders in
education. Thomas Taggart. in pub
lie speech and through personal ef-
fort greatly aided in getting a fair
tax levy TO support and develop the
three great state colleges. These
schools were thus taken out of poll
tics. ind out OF the legislative lobby
Taggart also helped to put through
the vocational education levy on an
adequate basis.
Speaking OF Citizen Taggart's help
given TO the women to help put
through housing laws and bills for
the good OF women and children,
Mrs. Albion Fellows Bacon says:
Women who were working for
various bills OF interest TO women
and children found Mr. Taggart had
foreseen the mead OF MANY NJ than.