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.

The situation killed any chance he had seeking higher office and earned him the moniker "Sales Tax Matt".

Both of his parents were natives of Jackson County, Indiana and had only recently moved to Detroit where his father took a job as a secretary and legal counsel for an insurance company.

At the outbreak of World War I, his father was hired as an industrial expediter by the federal government and began traveling often.

Welsh became involved in politics and ran for a seat in the Indiana House of Representatives and won in the 1940 election.

He was re-elected to his seat in 1942, but resigned after the first session of the General Assembly to enlist in the navy, as World War II broke out.

In 1950, President Harry Truman appointed him to serve as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, a position he held until resigning in 1952 to return to his law practice.

[6] Welsh had determined not to reenter politics but in 1954 he changed his mind and ran for the Indiana Senate, winning the election.

In 1956, his name was entered as a candidate for governorship at the State Democratic Convention, but he was narrowly defeated in the vote by Ralph Tucker, the mayor of Terre Haute.

The campaign focused primarily on the looming budget deficit and secondarily on the civil rights issues being debated nationally.

Although his party lost Indiana in the presidential election, Welsh won a narrow victory at the polls, winning by about 23,000 votes out of 2.1 million cast.

The Indiana General Assembly, however, was divided with Republican strongly controlling the House, and the Democrats with only a two-vote majority in the Senate.

Warrant officers were hired who, with the assistance of a local sheriff, could seize money and property to pay delinquent tax debts.

Despite all the activity, state revenue still fell short forcing the government to use its reserve funds; an even larger deficit was predicted for the 1958 tax year.

[8] Welsh had an easier time persuading Republicans to make a number of reforms to state agencies and departments.

The board was also given oversight in a number of other areas including education for the mentally disabled, and the state alcoholic treatment center.

Welsh was also concerned with the lack of accessibility to higher education in the state and urged for the creation of a commission to investigate the problem and make recommendations to improve the situation.

Wallace refused to hold such a ceremony and Alabama's captured battle flags still remain on display in the Indiana World War Memorial.

Since 1947, Indiana had been under a law that preventing it from accepting any money from the federal government except in cases specifically allowed by the General Assembly.

[16] Constitutionally prevented from seeking a consecutive term, Welsh left office in January 1965 and returned to his law practice in Vincennes.

His Republican opponent, Dr Otis R. Bowen, attacked him on the tax plan he had enacted, saying that it was a failure, and the state was still suffering from its effects.

Welsh touted his experience and civil-rights support, but ultimately lost the election by a decisive margin.

[8] Welsh spent his final years in Vincennes, but died after seeking medical attention in Indianapolis on May 28, 1995, aged eighty-two.