South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-08-22
BY HON. THOMAS TAGGART.
Address Before Indiana Democratic
Idifnrs NJ south Rsar1d

j would not now be candidate for
United States senator. but I was not
permitted 70 do this. At least / did
not feel I could afford not TO re-
spord TO the call OF my party after
l was urged to make the race
have my faults and no ore is more
conscious OF this than I am myself,
but do not believe 1 have ever been
charged with being unappreciative
OF what others have done for me,
therefore, when I was asked 70 make
the race for senator and I recalled
how kind the democrats OF this
state have been 20 me and how
many personal friends have
amongst them, and also amongst
the republicans who want me 10 go
back TO the United States senate
did not have the heart 10 say no 70
them. under the circumstances.
In seeking your support I make
no claims 10 being a platform ora
tor. Neither do / pretend TO have
any considerable experience IN the
field Of craftsmanship. I do think.
however, ! know something about
business and I have long been con-
vinced that running this government
/ Is nothing short OF a big business
proposition. If I am elected senator
I shall regard myself as a director
/ In a corporation charged with the
responsibilities OF aiding its manage
ment for the interest OF the stock
holderS-the people. l would en-
deavor to aid in administering IL in
a manner that would make you good
| dividends by not taking out or your
pockets money unnecessarily for the
mana cement Of the corporation's
interest I shall. my friends, II
q. -, - NJ hn
vigilant in my support OF the great
objects OF the government, namely
to safeguard the rights OF the
people TO life, liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness at as little cost
TO them as it would be possible TO
do IN Justice 20 the public welfare.
Consider Citizens.
We have "A wonderful government,
the most wonderful because II is the
best in the world. but we sometimes
I boast OF our government without
pausing TO consider the citizens duty
20 il. We should not forget the well
broadly speaking, are in the keeping
Of the people. It's great burdens
are largely borne by them whether
they are imposed IN peace or In war
and for this reason, If for no other,
none should be more alert than he
! In the control of public affairs The
humble citizen, therefore. does not
I have 10 offer an excuse for taking
an active part IN a political cam
paign. II is his duty 10 do IL. I
do not mean 10 say that the citizen
should always vote the same ticket,
what I want TO be understood as
saying is he should exercise dill
gently his intelligence in the selec-
ton Of a man for public ofiice-the
one who will best serve the people
and I say TO you now that 1 have
no right 10 ask your support in this
election and you should not support
me unless you believe I will make
an honest and intelligent effort TO
serve the best interest OF the people
Someone may say I have always
been a party man. I have. But 1
challenge any man to point out any
thing I ever did officially in the
eight years I was auditor OF Marion
county, or in the six years l was
mayor Of indianapolis or during the
six months I was in the United
States senate. that was not for the
best interest Of the people. AS I
served the people thc0 so shall I
again represent then ''y your vote
this fall I am elected the senate.
Believes I'm Democracy.
I believe the democratic party can
be trusted TO serve the people in the
future in the high and efficient man
ner Il has done in the past. I have
watched pretty closely for several
years the different administrations in
this state and I think I have a
pretty fair understanding of the
/ character OF tho legislation OF this
state during the past % years. and
| the management Of state affairs and
/ say unhesitatingly that during
/ that time more progressive legisla-
/ ton has been enacted and state af-
\ fairs have been better handled by
\ the democrats than by the repub-
/ lican party. I shall not take time
70 review the states records Of these
/ parties You have pretty good
/ estimate Of them. it is. therefore,
I unnecessary for me 10 discuss them
at any length.
/ I do however. want to remind
YOU that when the democratic party
/ turned our state government over TO
\ the republican party in 1917. the
| state was. for the first time in 50
/ years. out OF debt. And that is noe
all There was at that time a con-
| dition existing never known before
I IN the history Of the state. The
/ state was not only out OF debt but
] AIltIt were lAAL Ef anu q lluAL IlMlAOA
/ dollars in the state treasury. You
/ never heard Of the like before and
! this splendid condition was 70 be
| improved by wipinc out entirely the
| three percent sinking fund and by
/ making a reduction in the general
fund
The Tax Law
our republican friends under
took 10. and did. enact a tax law In
1919. but I think YOU viii agree
with me Il Is one OF the most IN
popular laws ever placed upon the
I statute books of Indiana. II is al
/ most universally condemned and
/ this is not strange when we recall
4 IL makes a most radical departure
! from the fundamental principles OF
our government II Is largely con-
( structed upon the idea OF centraliza-
( ton and the people established our
/ government against that principle.
/ This law deprives the people OF the
/ local self government guaranteed 70
/ them by the constitution on the
I matter OF fixing their local tax
/ levies and exercising their borrow
I inC powers. I believe the people
! OF Indiana would go to war before
/ they would consent 10 rest under
/ that sort OF a law. but they will not
/ have 20 go 70 war as our fathers
/ did 10 right that sort Of a wrong.
] fkaF~