Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1904 — THE NEXT LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

THE NEXT LEGISLATURE.

Indianapolis News: Although this is a presidential year, the people of Indiana will have no more important work to do than that of eleciing a Legislature. For what they will have to decide is whether they are going to choose men who will represent them or men who will be the pliant tools of the brewers and the corporations. Already much progress has been made in the direction of taking the Legislature out of the hands of the people. The brewers are at work all over the State pledging candidates of both parties to vote for an amendment of the Nicholson law eliminating the blanket remonstrance feature. Some men have already been nominated who are thus pledged. Others will be. It makes no difference to this brewer combine whether the Legislature be Democratic or Republican, and so it is trying to control the nominations of both parties. The men behind this movement are rich, and they will contribute liberally to the campaign funds, and will be glad to pay the expenses of candidates favorable to their program. The fight is one between the brewers and the people, and the people should nnderstandthe situation. Of course, there is no use in offering adviee to the men engaged in the liquor business, for their only idea is to grab everything in sight, without any regard to the feelings of the people. We think the policy is a mistaken one, The sentiment is already strong against the saloon. Many a man wno is not a Prohibitionist has been disgusted by the lawlessness of the liquor dealers and by their vicious activity in politics. There is no limit to their greed. And what is true of them is equally true of the brewers. Not content with selling their beer as other commodities are sold, they insist on making a market for it by establishing saloons all over town and by keeping those saloons open through the forbidden hours. And now they propose to take away from the people a proper power to keep these saloons out of their neighborhood. In other words, at the very time that people are seeking methods to curb the liquor business, the brewers are pushing a campaign to rob the people of the powers that they now possess to limit its scope and activity. Will the people of Indiana al- . low their Legislature to be captured by these men? No man, no matter what bis politics, ought to be nominated, or, if nominated, elected, who will not pledge himself to stand by the Nicholson law, and to support it both by his vote and his influence. The issue has been made and it should be met. No dodging should be allowed. The question is very simple and can be easily answered. It must be answered. The choice is between the people and the brewers.

No man can serve both. What is true in this particular is true in regard to other corporate influences. The people should see to it that those who are Bent to the Legislature are free to serve them, and are wholly free from railroad and corporation entanglements.