Matthew E. Welsh

Matthew E. Welsh
41st Governor of Indiana
In office
January 9, 1961 – January 11, 1965
LieutenantRichard O. Ristine
Preceded byHarold W. Handley
Succeeded byRoger D. Branigin
Member of the Indiana Senate
from the Knox County and Daviess County district
In office
January 1952 – January 1960
Preceded byClifford Farris[1]
Succeeded byJames Hamilton Beamon
United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana
In office
1950–1952
PresidentHarry Truman
Preceded byB. Howard Caughran
Succeeded byMarshall Hanley
Member of the Indiana House of Representatives
from the Knox County district
In office
January 1940 – June 19421
Preceded byCharles Omer Free[2]
Succeeded byBeecher Conrad
Personal details
Born
Matthew Empson Welsh

September 15, 1912
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedMay 28, 1995(1995-05-28) (aged 82)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Resting placeVincennes Memorial Park Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseVirginia Homann
Children2
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania (BS)
University of Chicago (JD)
ProfessionLawyer
Military service
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1942–1946
Battles/warsWorld War II
1 Resigned from the House to enlist in the US Navy

Matthew Empson Welsh (September 15, 1912 – May 28, 1995) was an American politician who was the 41st governor of Indiana and a member of the Democratic Party, serving from 1961 to 1965. His term as governor saw a major increase in statewide taxation, including the first state sales tax, and the passage of several important civil rights bills, making Indiana one of the most friendly states to ethnic and religious minorities at that time. His tax hikes led to a near-tax revolt in the state, and people began writing "Indiana—Land of Taxes" on their license plates, at entry points into the state, in stores, and other public places. The situation killed any chance he had seeking higher office and earned him the moniker "Sales Tax Matt". Despite numerous reforms and his popularity within the Democratic Party, he was defeated when he ran for governor again in 1972. After leaving office, he served as chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party, as a member of the Democratic National Committee from 1964 until 1968, and as a federal commissioner on the International Joint Commission from 1966 until 1970. Throughout his life, Welsh was known for his personal motto, "It doesn't cost you anything to be a gentleman." After his retirement in 1972, he returned to Indianapolis, where he remained until his death in 1995.

  1. ^ "State Senators from Knox County". Archived from the original on 2018-03-26. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  2. ^ "State Representatives from Knox County". Archived from the original on 2018-03-26. Retrieved 2018-03-26.