Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1900 — HOME OPINIONS. [ARTICLE]

HOME OPINIONS.

What Our Candidates Are Rated At v In Their Own Homes. The good opinion of one’s own neighbors and associates, the people who have for years had dealings with and are intimately acquainted with a man’s business principles and private character is the best endorsement of one’s honesty that can be desired. The democratic candidates, for congress, senator and representative, from the districts of which Jasper county is a part, have in each instance large majorities to overcome if they are elected, and the very fact of facing such odds, makes it incumbent upon Us as democrats to place our best and cleanest men to the front if we hope to even reduce the majority our opponents have in their favor. This, coupled with the righteousness of our cause, prompts us to believe that success will crown our efforts in November. From the Lafayette Journal, democratic, published in the home of our candidate for' congress, Hon. John Ross, we copy the following regarding Mr. Ross’ can--didacy: - Ffie noinmafidn bf John Ross? of Lafayette, for congress was one of the best moves that have yet been made by the Democrats in a campaign, peculiar for fortunate and well considered actions. The candidate takes his place in the ranks of the nominees who have a mountain of difficulty ahead of them. He has a majority of 4,240 to overcome. He has for an opponent a man of ability, and enough honesty to keep him from supportmg the Porto Rican steal, but not quite enough to keep him from supporting McKinley, the father of the steal, judge Crumpacker' is a trained /public speaker, while Mr. Ross has devoted his life to commercial pursuits, and does not claim to rival the orators of the country. But he is an honest man. He is a brave-and sensible and a capable man. He has that rugged eloquence which enables a man to state the truth so it can be understood. He knows when a thing is wrong in business or in official life, and he has the courage and the ability to express his condemnation so that offenders will understand him, whether they like it or not. Mr. Ross should be elected, and he may depend on the utmost loyalty and the most vigorous and persistent co-oper-ation that the memners of his party can afford him. If five thousand majority can be overcome, then he is going to be elected. And it is by no means a hopeless thing. The Republicans of the district are dissatisfied. There are hundreds of yo’wrs, formerly for McKinley, who condemn the administration's policy of making a military empire of this United States; who condemn the administration’s Porto Ri- ' can policy of dealing, and even more roundly condemn the manner in which i that infamy was brought about; who condemn the administration’s policy of crushing republics wherever they maybe found. And on these accounts they will support John Ross. Besides, it is not likely the National committee will do much to assist Judge Crumpacker. He would not fall down and worship when that tariff godlet was cairied by, and Mark Hanna would quite willingly see him punished. And, he has no business to be surprised if he wakes up in November, and finds that the punishment lias been bestowed.

From the Lowell Tribune, republican, we copy the following tribute to Mr. Clark, our candidate for joint-representative: Joseph A. Clark the nominee of the Democrats for joint-representative for the counties of Lake and Jasper is one of our most highly respected farmers. He is a pioneer in the settlement of Lake county; having come with his parents from Ontario county, state of New York, to tliis county in October 1837 and settled on a farm adjoining the one he now lives on. The country at that time was sparsely settled and Mr. Clark has a full knowledge of the hardshq s and privations one undergoes in the settlement of a new country. Unlike the youth of today he did not have the advantages of schools but emdraced such opportunities as were within his reach with the result that he obtained a fair education and is now one of our best informed citizens. When the war of the Rebellion came he enlisted June 1861 in Co. B of the 20th Indiana Veteran Volunteer Infantry in which he rose from the rank of private to that of Second Lieutenant. He served nearly four years and was once wounded. He makes no pretention whatever as a public speaker, but is possessed of a much higher and better qualification in a legislator, that of a thoroughly honest man. He is a man that conceiving a thing to be wrong will have no hesitancy in pronouncing against it, or if he thinks a thing is right will nut be found a laggard in its support. While we differ from Mr. Clark politically, we do not propose to withold our views on him as an honorable, upright man and one that would make an hunest and capable represdntative; something that Lake county is very much in. need of just now.

As Jasper county is the home of our candidate for state senator for the counties of Jasper, Newton and White, we wish to add to

the above tributes a few words regarding Lucius Strong, that the people of our neighboring counties may know something of the mam. who asks for their suffrage. Lucius Strong was born in Marion county, Ohio, in 1836. He received his early education In the common schools of his native county, completing it with one year ii the high school. 1857 he came to this county and settled in Marion township. In 1865 he moved to Newton township where he followed farming and stockraising for a number of yeais. He was four times elected trustee of Newton township, serving altogether ten years in this capacity. The people of that township will tell you to-day that Lucius Strong made them one of the best and most economical trustees the the township ever had, and that not one breath of scandal ever attached to the office during his long administration. In 1890 Mr. Strong retired from active farming and moved to Rensselaer, where he has resided and has a comfortable home. He still koks alter the management of his Newton township farm, driving back ! and forth as occasion demands. He has | been a successful farmer and has always taken a great deal of interest- in the Farmer’s Institutes, and was four times elected president of the Jasper county ■ organization. In 1898 Mr. Strong was I nommated foiccounty. commissioner and, i through the reptibhcanscarried thevonntv j on the state ticket by 475 majority, was . defeated by only two votes. There is no humbug or trickery about ' Lucius Strong, He is a man in all that j the term implies. Being a well read and I intelligent farmer, in a community where ! farming is the chief industry and other pursuits are in a great measure of but secondary importance, he is in a position to know the needs of bis constituents and has tire honesty and perseverance tv work for their interests. On all matters touching theTwetfare of “the people he will always be found on the right side. " , In nominating Lucius Strong for state senator the democrats put forward their | djestrnatrnvman ip every way to discharge the duties of the office with ! credit to himself and to the best inter- i ests of ALL the people, and if the voters of the counties of Jasper, Newton and ■ White fail to elect Mr. Strong in Novem-, ber they will make a huge mistake.