Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1909 — THE PEOPLE'S BURDENS. [ARTICLE]

THE PEOPLE'S BURDENS.

The work of redeeming Indiana from bad and extravagant government has only been begun. The election of a Democratic governor was a long step but it must be followed up by electing a legislature thoroughly in accord with the governor’s business policies, and by putting men in the state offices who will aid him in carrying out the promises that the Democratic party has made to the people.

The late session of the legislature demonstrated several things, but it proved one With special emphasis, and that is, that if the people of Indiana want a return to economical government they must give the Democratic party control of both branches of the legislature and possession of the state offices. By doing this Governor Marshall’s policies can be made more effective than is possible otherwise.

Governor Marshall is quoted in a Washington interview as saying that he believes the principal plank in the next Democratic national platform will be a tariff for revenue plank. He is also quoted as saying that "In my opinion we shall never have a proper settlement of this tariff question until business is taken out of politics and politics is taken out of business—in other words, until we have a tariff scientifically and accurately constructed on a basis of tariff for revenue only.” Of course, the governor is right. And what is more, the whole country is at last beginning to view the tariff question in the same way.

Let the women‘study the tariff question. The more they learn about it the more they will want their husbands, brothers and sweethearts to vote the Democratic ticket. When this Payne bill has been passed and signed by the president, every woman in the county should get a copy of it and read it. She can then readily figure out where she gets “her’n.” And then she should get the aforesaid husband, brother or sweetheart to read it so that they can see where they get “thelr’n.” From present indications the Dingley law, with all its pilferings and larcenies, might claim some respectability in com* parison with this new tariff bill.

The German-American Democratic club of Indianapolis, in a meeting held last week to consider the forthcoming city campaign, adopted resolutions which contained the following: "It has in latter years, as concerns the management of public business —from the national government down to the township—-be-come a fad, a mania, to increase expenditures absolutely without regard to receipts. "This practice has led to an Increase in the rate of taxation, an Increase in our bonded indebtedness, or both; and, has brought not only the national government but also many state, county and municipal governments practica"y to a condition of insolvency. “The burdens heaped upon an al-

ready overtaxed people are largely responsible for the deplorably depressed conditions now existing upon every hand. “These practices have continued until an overburdened public finds that forbearance has almost ceased to be a virtue.” The resolutions then went on to demand the nomination and election to office of men who are not only pledged to, but are known to stand for economy in the transaction of public business. It is becoming clearer every day that the people are waking up all along the line on the question of the burdens imposed upon them by official abuse of power. The Democratic party in Indiana has for years been making a fight against extravagance and unnecessary taxation, and it proposes to keep it up until there is real reform.

The wheat gamblers raise the price of bread without benefittlng either the farmer, the miller or the baker. The meat trust raises the price of meats without benefittlng the farmer or the butcher. The vegetable and iru'-t trusts raise the price of those articles without helping the producer. And so It goes through the whole list of food stuffs. It Is only In "free America,” under Republican rule, that the people are allowed to be robbed and oppressed at their very tables. In some countries the man who attempts to “corner” food stuffs Is sent to prison. In some other countries this class of gentry, one of these days, will be hung—either judicially or otherwise.

THE PEOPLE’S MONOPOLY. J. Pierpont Morgan, who has made more money off the government than any other man in the country, owns a lot of “art treasures” which he has gathered up in Europe and stored in a London mansion. He has kept these “treasures” .on exhibition, and ' frequently London dispatches tell us about this or that “royal” party calling at the Morgan house to inspect his "priceless” paintings, tapestries, statues and curios. But Mr. Morgan has refused to bring these .treasures home to America. He objected to the tariff. The tariff was for the common people, not for Morgan. So, therefore, the new tariff bill is going to allow Mr. Morgan’s “art treasures” to be imported free of duty. Under this new tariff the common people, more than ever before, will be allowed to monopolize the patriotic felicity of paying the taxes which support the government.