 French
Lick was famous for its guest.
Taggart specifically invited
newspapermen, politicians, and
doctors to French Lick. These in
addition to thousands of others
known in the world of business or
the theater made the resort a
"mecca" for the social
elite and the social
"climber". The
courteous attention and the many
diversions for the women at
French Lick prompted most of the
male guest to bring their wives.
It wasn't long before long list
of people were making annual
visits. George Ade, Pauline
Fredericks, William F. Kenny,
Nicholas F. Brady, R. E. Forest,
Frank A. Dulley, Julia Boyd, Gene
Tunney, Charles B. Dillingham,
Leon Errol, W. A. McGuire, Irving
Berlin, Jake Rupert, Mary Roberts
Reinhart, the Vanderbilts, M. D
Plant, John W. Cates, Al Smith,
Charles F. Murphy, Roger
Sullivan, the list could go on
and on. Hundreds of senators,
governors, and other politicians
visited French Lick at one time
or another. The roster of famous
names would read like a
"Who's Who" of the
twentieth century. It was style,
it was fashion to visit French
Lick. Society people who could
have gone anywhere preferred to
visit Tom Taggart's resort in
Orange County.
The fall
and the spring were the busiest
seasons for the hotel. Many of
the annual visitors to French
Lick vacationed during the
greater part of the year. At the
close of the winter season in
Palm Beach, the Riviera, or any
other of the winter playgrounds,
the season opened for French
Lick. Others came to rest after a
winter of steady work. The hotel
generally filled just prior to
the Kentucky Derby.
The
Kentucky Derby meant as much to
the hotel at French Lick as it
did to the hotels in Louisville.
French Lick, located only 60
miles away became the favorite
stopping place for turf
enthusiasts who didn't relish the
crowds in Louisville. The hotel
made the most of the event.
Special displays were set up, and
the resort sparkled in
anticipation of the day. Private
railroad cars lined the siding at
French Lick while their owners
relaxed and enjoyed Derby
festivities. Even after the
derby, horse lovers, and track
fans gathered at the hotel. Many
stayed on at French Lick until
the Five Hundred Mile Race at
Indianapolis, after which the
hotel entered into the not quite
so busy summer months.
One of the only failures of
Taggart enterprises occurred in
1918 when the much heralded
French Lick and West Baden
Railway Company went out of
business. In 1915, in order to
stave off debts being acquired by
the company, an increase in stock
from $50,000 to $100,000 was
authorized. The stock was never
sold on the open market, and was
kept in the Taggart family
instead. The coming of the
automobile, and more
specifically, adequate taxi
services running between French
Lick and West Baden put the line
in the red. In 1918 all
operations ceased. No street car
has operated in either town since
that time. The utilities went out
of Taggart hands in about 1917.
The franchise for supplying water
and power to the town of French
Lick was sold to Edward Ballard,
soon to be owner of the West
Baden Springs Hotel.
In spite of
World War I, French Lick
continued to rise. Tom Taggart
likewise achieved greater
national prominence. In 1914,
Taggart had called together the
Democratic state convention. At
that time he withdrew his name
from consideration for the
senatorial nomination and
actively worked to insert a plank
favoring the direct primary law
into the party platform. Both
wishes were carried out.
Senatorship, however, was not to
be denied to him. On March 29,
1915, Tom Taggart was appointed
United States Senator by Governor
Ralston, to fill a vacancy caused
by the death of Benjamin F.
Shively. Taggart was in
Washington only a short time. The
unexpired term had less than a
year to run. As might have been
expected Taggart viewed
government through the eyes of a
successful business man. He
safely stood for economy in
government, the "good
roads" bill, and spoke |
|
against
"pork barreling." In
November Taggart attempted to
succeed himself, but was defeated
in the Republican sweep of that
year. In 1920 he again ran for
Senator but met defeat at the
hands of Republican James C.
Watson.
In spite of these political
defeats Taggart's political star
was by no means dimmed. He
remained a powerful maker of
office-holders. The hotel at
French Lick was often the scene
of political conferences which
drew the attention of the entire
nation. Annual visits of leading
democratic political bosses drew
much conjecture as to the topics
of discussion. The outstanding
gathering of party bosses
assembled at French Lick in
November, 1923. Charles F.
Murphy, Tammany Hall leader,
George E, Brennan, Democratic
boss of Chicago, Joe Guffey of
Pittsburgh, Ralph Pulitzer,
publisher of the New York World,
and many lesser politicians
joined Taggart at French Lick. In
spite of complete news coverage,
and much second guessing
concerning the 1924 Democratic
nominees nothing of note was
reported. When interviewed these
men stated that their visit was
merely their
"customary" one, and
that no decisions or policies had
been reached. Frequent visits
like this on, gained a reputation
for French Lick in the field of
politics.
The 1924
Democratic convention was a big
one for Tom Taggart. He foresaw a
deadlock between the supporters
of Al Smith of New York and
William G. McAdoo of California.
Taggart felt that a compromise
candidate might be the one to
carry the nomination. With this
aim in mind he quietly set about
to groom Samuel M. Ralston of
Indiana as that candidate. At the
convention, true to Taggart's
prediction, a deadlock did rise.
The voting dragged on for 93
ballots, during which time
Taggart had been acquiring
assurances of support to the new
forming Ralston bandwagon. On
July 8, 1924, at almost the
precise moment that Taggart was
ready to push the name of
Ralston, he received a telegram
from Ralston. The message
requested that his name be
withdrawn from further
consideration because of ill
health. This telegram was one of
the biggest disappointments in
Taggart's life. Taggart's
strategy had been sound. John W.
Davis eventually was nominated by
the convention as its "dark
horse" compromise candidate.
In 1928 Taggart worked to groom
his lifelong friend Evans Woollen
for the presidency. He succeeded
in pledging the Indiana
delegation to Woollens' support,
but Taggart's ill health
prevented him from attending the
Houston convention thereupon
hurting Woollens' chances.
While other
hotels were struggling to keep
their books in the black because
of the restrictions of
prohibition, French Lick
continued to make profits. In the
twenties more that 100,000 people
were annually visiting French
Lick Springs Hotel. Gross revenue
for the hotel, including Pluto
sales, was in excess of two
million dollars annually.
Prior to
1924, heavy demands were being
made requesting convention
facilities at French Lick.
Although Tom Taggart was against
turning the hotel into a
convention center, it was finally
decided that additional business
could be gained from the addition
of another great wing to the
hotel. In 1924 work was begun on
a two hundred foot, yellow brick,
six floor addition running
directly north of the old hotel
section. By 1925 the wing was
finished at a cost of over
$500,000. The addition brought
the hotel to it present day size
and opened a new range of
services which the hotel could
now offer. The wing, known as
Convention Hall, is devoted
entirely to the business of
conventions. A large stage and
auditorium suitable for large
numbers of guest occupies the
ground and first floor of the
wing. Special rooms were made
available for smaller meetings,
larger areas for displays and
exhibits were also designed as a
selling point. Upper floors of
the structure contained rooms for
additional visitors. |