Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1914 — Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 [ADVERTISEMENT]

would have been ashamed to make srach a criticism. I am not arguing that the work of the last Legislature could not have been improved upon in any respect. Neither am I asking anyone to believe that what I have done in my official capacity could not have been bttter done by someone else. What I do insist upon is that the record of the Democratic party in our State affairs is an honst and capable record, and is better than the record of the Republican party in our State affairs. I have no reflections to make against the high character and purposes of the great mass of Republicans, or agamst the sterling qualities of many of their leaders; but when the managers of a party seek to get control of a State by falsehood and slander, they cannot complain if the weak places in their own armor be attacked. Democrats have made mistakes, of course, in their legislative policies, but no Ananias Baker has ever flourished bribe money in the face of a Democratic legislature. No Joss bills have flooded Democratic legislatures with a corruption fund, to secure legislation to remove the railroads of the State from the jurisdiction of the State courts. The people have not forgotten the festering condition of public affairs under Republican officials in the State house; made public a few years ago by a Republican Governor, which forced three State officials out of office and sent one to the penitentiary. The people have not forgotten that but a few* years ago a Republican clerk in the Bureau of Inspection, by ; raising and Issuing false vouchers ! and charging false expenses, succeeded in appropriating to her own use more than seven thousand dollars of the public funds, and that the State has never recovered a penny thereof. The people not forgotten that one E. E. Earle. Republican deputy Fish and Game Warden, embezzeled more than seven thousand dollars of the funds belonging to that department, and the State has never been able to recover any part of it. Earle not only stole the money belonging to the State, but he actually stole the stenographer belonging to the office, and with her fled to parts unknown. How unlike this record is that made by the Democrats, when they are entrusted with power in Indiana! The last Legislature enacted measures of a most restrictive character, affecting many of the important interests of the State and of some not in the State but doing business here; | and yet without fear I challenge any \ of the critics of the Democratic ; party, from the Indianapolis News I down or up, to name any Democratic ! member of that body whose vote was : cast against any of these restrictive ' and remedial measures through cor- j ruption. | No legislature in the history of the State gave the people more far- ; reaching, helpful, and sanely progressive laws than did the last one. No wonder the Progressive platform of 1914 recognized the high character of the work done by that Legislature. That Legislature passed laws to guard elections, to help merchants, to improve sanitary conditions and the public health, in the interest of teachers and children, to assist soldiers and sailors, in the interest of labor, and laws for all the people. On March 11, 1913, the day following the adjournment of the legislature, the Indianapolis News, while not endorsing all the work, of that session, and taking exceptions to some of its omissions, said editorially: “We owe to the Legislature an excellent public utilities law, a penal farm law, an inheritance tax law, a loan shark law, a blue sky law, an anti-cocaine law, a vocational educational law, a housing law and a fire marshal law. That is a record of positive achievements and the Democratic party is entitled to much credit for it.” The News is now asking for the defeat of the party that made the record I have just quoted, and if you v.-ill take the time to read the editorial from which I have quoted you will see that the News gave Taggart credit for much of the good work the Legislature did and criticised him, at least by implication, for not interfering with its deliberations more than he did; for it said, “The Legislature took a new grip on itself, and it made a fairly decent ending—much better than was thought possible after Mr. Taggart had withdrawn his hand.” The Democratic party should be defeated, as its critics say, because it requires too much money to run the State under it. This party has given to the people of Indiana one of the very best utilities laws in the country; and although SIIO,OOO was appropriated in addition«.to certain fees to carry on its work, the best information now is that it will not cost the State this year over $90,000 —a saving of $30,000 or $40,000. It is hard to estimate value of the services of this commission to the public. Those capable of judging say, that in the gas mferger case of Indianapolis alone, it saved consumers of gas in the first year at least SIOO,000, and'this saving will necessarily increase as the years go by. Massachusetts appropriatel to carry on the work of a similar commission one year $177,445 and Wisconsin, the State which reformers urge us to imitate, appropriated $163,000 for one year. The News also said editorially, on March 10, 1913: “The public utilities law will probably cost two or three hundred thousand dollars!a year.” The last session of the Legislature cost the State* $160,000, a few thousand more than any former session cost. How does this compare with the cost of legislatures in other states? Thd sesion of the Legislature of Wisconsin in 1913 cost that State $244,687.23, including $49,000 paid to newspapers for publishing the laws. The last session of the Legislature of Massachusetts cost that State $445 - 071.44. State Finances. The question of State finances is an issue in every State campaign, at least it is talked about in every State campaign. This campaign is no exception to the rule. The people always,, and very properly, scrutinize