Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1885 — COMMUNICATED. [ARTICLE]

COMMUNICATED.

Editor Sentinel: Being a reader of the Republican as well as the Sentinel, I have notified how eagerlo the Republican has sought to find same excuse for attacking the Legislature which has but recently adjourned, and was Democratic in both branch s. It endeavored to make a great noise about the Special Session which was called by the Governor to meet Morch 10th, 1885, implying that an extra session was not necessary, but was a scheme to relieve the tax-payers of the State out of about SISOO per day, while the members of the 54th General Assembly were wrangling over unimportant questions and seeking to disfranchise about 47 per c nt. of the voters of this great State. In 1852, when-the present Constitution of Indiana was adopted, the framers of that Constitution, in their wisdom, thought that 61 days was sufficient time for our law-makers to transact the business of the State. And it was at that time, but, as a State, have we not kept apace with the progressive age in which we live; in the increase of our agricultural resources, mining and manufacturing interests, and in fact all interests which add to the wealth and development of our State. In 1852 we had a population of all colors and sex 988,716 souls. — Our taxable property at that time was about $222,915,904. There was but a few miles of Railroad and Telegraph wires in the State. Our benevolent institutions were very inferior. At that time Fire and Life Insurance Companies were but few —Telephone and Electric light companies were unknown. Now, we have a population of 2,256,348 souls, and taxable property amounting to $1,223,236,465 79; Railroad corporations operating over 6,000 miles of road in the State, r presenting a valne for taxation of $45,442,941, while Telegraph and Telephone wires form a network covering the whole State, and representing millions of dollars worth of property. Our charitable institutions are second to no State in the Union, in proportion to our wealth. Magnificent edifices of learning may be found in our fiities, towns and villages. Our agricultural, mining and -manufacturing interests employ thousands of men, women and coildren, who are dependent upon legislation for laws which will secure them from the exactions of grasping corporations. Tli nwe say if 61 days was enough time in 1852 for our legislators to complete their labors, it is ot now enough time, with all these interests to legislate for and to regulate, so that all classes and conditions of labor may be protected equally with the men of capital who invest in these enterprises.— And if our Legislature does not complete its labors, the Governor should be a man like Governor Gray, who has the courage and i g

whole-souled and - big-hearted enough to say “Gentlemn, you can sit until your needful legis ation is completed, and for that purpose I call you in special .session!’** ’ The Republican holds up its.jqyids in holy horror because there had been an extra session called: and yet it has been of frequent occurrence when the Republican party controlled the legislative department of the State. There were special sessions in 1872 and 1x873, ’75, ’77, ’79 and ’Bl, and no more need probably than in 1885, and we do not recollect of half as mubh being sad about it as about the last session. As to the disfranchising of 47 q>er cent, of the voters, the Democratic party ’had the power to redistfict the State for Congressional and Legislative purposes, and they did it, the same as did the Republican party in 1875, and if the last apportionment is vicious and unfair th§ party will have to answer for* it to the people in the next campaign, {is did the Republicans in the* campaign of *1876. But take the apportionment of 1875, and that of 1885, hold them up together and let an impartial jury decide wdiich is the most fair to all the people of the State. The Republican should bear in mind the old saying, “That people living in glass houses should not throw

stones.”

DORCAS.

Newton Tw’p, May 6th, ’BS.