Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1910 — SENATOR BEVERIDGE SOUNDS THE KEYNOTE [ARTICLE]

SENATOR BEVERIDGE SOUNDS THE KEYNOTE

The address of Senator Beveridge to the Republican editors of Indiana, at the mid-winter convention of the Indiana Republican Editorial Association has attracted much attention because of the stand taken by the Indiana senior senator on the question of patties, their duties, functions and proper appeal to the voters; because of Senator Beveridge’s declaration for a campaign based on truth and sincerity, and because the speech is by • many tegarded as the official bugle call for the newspaper men who help to- fight the battles of the Republican party In tile state from year to year. The brief address of the State Chairman Edwin M. Lee made a good impression on the editors, and the scholarly talk given to the Journalists by Judge Q. H. Montgomery, of the supreme court, was the cause of much favorable comment. But the central oratorical offering, naturally, was that emanating from the man who Is to lead the Republican campaign In the state. In substance Senator Beveridge said: “When one thinks of the Republican party, one thinks of Abraham Lincoln. And when one thinks of Abraham Lincoln he thinks of ideals so noble and so pure that men marched joyously to battle and went singing to their death for them. This Is the spirit that always must inspire our party—should Inspire every party. “It has been eloquently said that Lincoln was a pessimist of conditions and an optimist of possibilities. So ls every patriot who thinks. Always there Is some condition which can be bettered for the welfare of mankind. “What has made our party so strong during the decade now closing? Fighting for any enactment of laws along these lines; and it is a notable Tact that not one of the great measures which has made the last ten years historic In America and the world’s legislation, was written by any member of the opposition party, and every one of them was resisted by reactionaries of both parties. “What forced their enactment then?. The people. “Who passed the railway rate law? The people. “Who passed the meat inspection law; the department of Commerce and Labor law; the employers’ liability law; the Irrigation law, and other laws like them? The people. “The laws grew out of the real needs, grew out of the settled convictionsjo.f the. masses of men and women who make up the Nation. And because qur party responded to these needs of the people, the people respond to our party. This plain course we must continue, meeting, always, the people’s needs. Laws of business must be strengthened where they are weak, according to the recommendations made by President Taft to Congress, so that evil may be more surely punished and that tlie upright and honest shall not be lashed with the same whip. “New laws must be written, surely, Jto safeguard the nation’s wealth, the "nation’s resources, which until a few years ago were so recklessly wasted and despoiled. A scientific tariff commission can best settle the tariff question upon the basis of truth and justice. Always we must be fearless for the right and prudent In doing the right. “Let us face the facts. No one ever wrestled with a fact without getting thrown. And the fact is that independent voting by citizens at the polls is widespread and increasing. Always it has been and always it will be so at times when no mighty fundamental issue divides citizens into opposing camps of hostile belief. Four years ago I opened a campaign in a sister state upon this theory; and upon this theory It was fought. We appealed to the voters’ judgment and conscience, and our party won a decisive victory. You cannot whip voters into support of any ticket In times like these. The citizen consults with his family and his fireside about men and tendencies, and then goes to the polls and votes for what he thinks will be best for his family and the country. This very fact should be and will be an element of strength to us in this campaign. “It is the blood of Independence that flows through American veins. Onr forefathers began It when they threw the tea overboard. It was the meaning of the spirit of ’76. We will hold voters to our party not by shackles, but by confidence. We will win voters from other parties not by bludgeons, but by ideals. “You Republican editors are the chief workers of our party. You are the torch-bearers of truth. It is a great mission. Men in other professions of life do their business for profit only. You do your business for profit —but In doing it you feed the mind and conscience of the people. With many of you I have had an abiding friendship reaching back a quarter of a century; for at every table I see men who became my friends twenty-flva years ago when I was ‘stumping* the cross-roads, in barns and in blacksmith shops. “I owe a debt that I never can pay to the country editors of Indiana, who, from the moment I entered the Senate, have bravely and faithfully supported me in every effort I have tried to make for the common good. _ -- “We are going into a great battle, and are coming out with a victory that will resound throughout .the naof a party, merely, but seeking the good of all citizens: A party can grow strong only bjr being broader thaw Itself." -. .