Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 237, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 October 1914 — SENATORS ELECTED BY DIRECT VOTE [ARTICLE]

SENATORS ELECTED BY DIRECT VOTE

Odd Claim Made By Beveridge That Newspapers Were Trying to Deceive the People. Hon. Albert J. Beveridge, for twelve years the United States senator from Indiana, Elected as a republican and working actively in the ranks of that party as long as he was in office, came here Tuesday and spoke in the interest of’ thf progressive party and his own candidacy for United States senate on that ticket. Senator Beveridge is a brilliant orator, a student, a writer, a man of wide experience and interested in many policies for which the republican party stands and which might have been enacted into law by this time had such men as Beveridge and Roosevelt continued in the party. Senator Beveridge looked tired and worn by his hard campaign and his voice was husky and he lacked the ardor which has characterized (him in former campaigns. His speech here was a disappointment to most of his hearers, for he did not* enter into a discussion of many of the issues which were assigned as the cause of the formation of the progressive party. He assailed the republicans and democrats alike, using the term “liars” several times and accusing the party leaders of being crooks, grafters, thieves, etc., and mentioning the names of men in several states who are in the Roosevelt list of dishonorable. Among these was Senator Elihu Root, of New York, whom Roosevelt, as president, beseeched to give up his practice as a lawyer in New-York City after the death of John Hay and to return to the Roosevelt cabinet as secretary of state, only a short time after Mr. Root had resigned as secretary of war to engage-in the practice of law. The same Elihjj Root whom Mr. Roosevelt had endorsed in the highest terms until he refused to desert the party that had.honored him, which seems to be mainly the test of Roosevelt and Beveridge honesty, . There is probably no man in the United States today of greater personal integrity or possessing higher standards of national honor than Elihu Root, apd ■ Mr. Beveridge will ffipke no friends where Mr. Root’s qualities are understood by assailing him. Senator Beveridge has long favored a tariff commission for control of the tariff question. He argued for it in his speech Tuesday, and stated-that many republicans -had said they favor it. He did not say that the* Payne-Aldrich tariff measure, which he voted against, provided a commission to investigate the cost of production at home and abroad, that such a commission was appointed, that it was non-partisan and that it proceeded to organize and began its labors and secured information which it presented to congress affecting schedules vital to the people. It _was a beginning that would by this ’very time have revolutionized the tariff question, taken it out of politics and accomplished the very purpose which Senator Beveridge declares so desirable, and yet it was not supported by BeVeridge and he withdrew from the republican party at the very threshold of accomplishing what Jie wanted, Senator Beveridge made simple mention of the initiative, referendum and the recall. He charged that he had been told by the “gang in Indianapolis” that no one cared a rap for the children, jnd with the Beveridge brand of modesty suggested that he was the only person who cared about child employment legislation. Probably tjie most interesting part of his speech, because it was the most ridiculous, was his charge . that republican and democratic newspapers have refused to state that United States senators hre this year elected by 'direct vote of the people. The object of such refusal was not suggested and what advantage any party or any individual could have in concealing the fact United States senators are thus to be chosen was nol; even spoken of. It is a slam at the intelligence of the people to say that they do not know that senators are now elected by the direct votes of the people. The republican, democratic and progressive parties in state convention have each nominated a- candidate, the name appears at the head of the state tickets carried in the newspapers and every man who votes in Indiana this fall will east his ballot directly for either Hugh T. Miller, the republican candidate; Benjamin F. Shively, the democratic candidate; Albert J. Beveridge, the progressive candidate, or one of the nominees of the less prominent parties. There would be no object

in concealment, but there would be no object in carrying the information daily in the newspapers any more than it would be to say that the president of the United States is chosen through the election of electors,~or in saying xtaY after day that Indianapolis is the* capital of Indiana. The fact that some grossly ignorant newspaper publisher in southern Indiana stated that senators were elected as of old through the legislature proved nothing except the ignorance of the editor, and Mr. Beveridge assailed the intelligence of the people by his foolish charge. Will Ade, of Newton county, followed Senator Beveridge and made a short speech. He said .that in New ton county he had the habit'of getting whatever he went after. He did not say that he went after the job of county treasurer twice as a republican and was defeated and that it was this disappointment which made him leave the party. He said that the republican paper in Rensselaer had informed its readers that he was not a farmer. We do not believe that we ever said any such thing. Mr. Ade is an extensive farm owner, but he farms in the main by the tenant farm or hired man system and if comparisons along this line were to be made, he would be required to admit that John B. Peterson, the democratic candidate, is also a farmer, for he is an extensive farm owner. We don’t know whether Will R. Wood owns a farm or not. Will Ade’s father was a pioneer of Newton county and acquired broad acres when the land was cheap. Will came in for the advantage. But Will R. Wood is a friend to the farmer, a protectionist and beI lieves in that will de velop the farming and manufacturing interests of the tenth district. He has proven worthy of confidence as a member of the state house anc senate and all who are interested in the welfare of the district will take no chances of the re-election of John B. Peterson by throwing their vote to Will Ade, but will vote directly for Will R. Wood, and they will find him one of the ablest men Indiana ever had in the congress of the United States.

Following the speeches, which were heard by about 400 men and women, a joint convention was helc and on the recommendation of Dr. Coffin, of Monticello, a man named McKinney, of Wolcott, was nominated for representative. A collection was then taken. Mr. Beveridge had made speeches at Idaville, Wolcott and Monon before coming here. At Idaville he ’was ffresented with a silver loving cup? which cost SIOO and which Monticello porgressives had purchased for him. The occasion of the gift was the fact that it was -his 52nd birthday. From here Mr. Beveridge and his party went to Kentland, where a meeting was held at night. The Star estimated the Kentland crowd at 4,000, which doubtless was fully large enough, for it is hardly probable that ten or fifteen times as many would turn out at Kentland as turned out her*. Mr. Beveridge will unquestionably be found back in the republican party two years later, for in periods of his speech he spoke so reverently of it and there was not the “punch” back of his speech that characterized him two years ago. He spoke of friends in the party and told how he revered the name and after the election this year, which will demonstrate that there is no mission for the third party and that the only way to secure the good things for whjch it may contend, is by joining forces with the parent party and using the great majority of the two in the righteous cause of the people, which is the aim, the hope and the strife of the people themselves and which itself is the greatest rebuff to Beveridge and Roosevelt ip. -the selfish purposes which led them from the party of accomplishment at a time when they might so greatly have aided in the embodiment of issues into laws. We hope to see Senator Beveridge in Rensselaer two years hence flying a republican banner, and we expect it because he now feels the error of his departure. The coming back movement was never stronger and in Jasper county it is mojre potent today than at any time since the Chicago convention breach of 1912.

McCaysburg will have a Sunday school picnic next Sunday. It will be held in the grove if the weather is agreeable and in the school house if the weather is inclement. All are ■invited to come and bring well filled baskets. L. H. Hamilton will address all who are gathered there and a program will be carried out.