Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 March 1911 — BREWERY LEGISLATION IS DISASTROUS TO DEMOCRATS. [ARTICLE]

BREWERY LEGISLATION IS DISASTROUS TO DEMOCRATS.

Representative Janies R. Guild Discusses Late Legislature in The Winamac Republican. 1 The following interesting discussion of the proceedings of the recent legislature was printed in last week’s Winamac Republican. It is written James R. Guild, of Medaryville, who was a representative in the state legislature and who is, well known in Rensselaer and throughout Jasper county. We publish the letter In full: Mr. Editor: At your request I submit a brict account of the N Indiana Genera! Assembly which has recently closed. Personally it has been a great experience to me, as it has been an absolute rest from business cares of 20 years’ experience and I see the great state of Indiana with its varied conditions, its vast business enterprises, its* people of every class and conditions as I never saw it before. Really Indiana is a great state and every true loyal citizen may be proud that he is a Hoosier. Me. Lapp, the assistant librarian, who by the way, is a republican and who has been holding this position for a great many years, said that there was more good whblesome legislation offered at the 67th general assembly than had e>jer been offered at any other assembly since he held the position he now holds. Mr. Lapp is considered as authority on phraseology of bills and knowledge of the constitutional law and draws nearly ail the bills presented by thS members of both houses. He is a wonder iu his profession.

The newspapers have given the proceedings from day to day;-some were correct and some were very unfair and misleading, but I presume it is always so and will continue to be so as long as politics and selfish interests control theqf. The Indianapolis News was very unfair and misleading, particularly regarding bill 105, which it has formed; which if it become a law would have been one of the best laws for the trusts that could have been drawn and if this bill had been discussed upon the floor of the house a few hours longer it would have had but little support and it is very fortunate for the people of Indiana that the bill was killed. It was stated that a powerful lobby was working against this bill and which is untrue' and the members of the legislature without exception, I think, will say they were not interviewed directly or indirectly for or against this bill and all we saw was in the News. \

Politically, the minority got so accustomed to the “Roller’’ that they seemed to enjoy it, although they made themselves heard when it presented itself. Our democratic' friends, in carrying out their platform pledge to repeal -county option, certainly have put a club in the people’s hands that will be their undoing at the next electron it the republicans will act wisely and come out . strong: for temperance in their The breweries had complete control of the democrats and there is no use denying it. The people of Indiana ata not going to lie down and submit to the cursed business. The new constitution will also be another live issue in the next campaign. With the exception of political measures the minority were treated well and as for Mr. Veneman, the speaker, I have the highest esteem for him, for he is a gentleman and was perfectly fair and an all round good fellow. Mr. Cravens, the democratic floor leader, and Mr. Eschback, republican floor leader, were the right men in the right place. Mr. Cravens is a quiet, unassuming man, but handled his forces with ability and Mr. Eschback is a regular “fire eater,” and talks square from the shoulder and handles his forces perfectly. He would make the republicans a fine candidate for congress. I wad fortunate in getting all my bills through without opposition and feel especially gratified in getting bill 493 through. This bill provides a law by which dredge ditches may be repaired ang enlarged without going into the court with a new petition and a long list of costs to follow. Strange to say, there was no law under which dredge ditches could be repaired. Mr. M. M. Hathaway drew this bill and a number of attorneys have come to me and said it was the most complete measure in Itself they had ever seen and complimented Mr. Hathaway on the same.

As the representative from this county, I served them to tbe very best of my ability and while I no doubt made mistakes, I voted as I thought would best serve my constituents on every measure, and have the satisfac-

tion of feeling that I have done the best that was in me. Very sincerely, ... . JAMES R. GUILD.