Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 57, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1914 — THE CHANGES OF 63 YEARS IN INDIANA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE CHANGES OF 63 YEARS IN INDIANA

How They Have Made Our State Corv stKution Unequal to the Demands Put Upon It It is no accident of politics or legislation that the question of calling a constitutional convention is upon ua at this time. The present demand for a new constitution is a wholly natural expression of the expanding progressive sentiment in the state and in our local comm unties. Our first constitution, adopted in 1816, was discarded at the end of thirty-five years because outgrown by a generation of progress, and our

present constitution, adopted in 1851, made to satisfy the needs and conditions of the middle of the nineteenth century. Now Bhall we of the second decade of the twentieth century show les6 courage and progressive spirit in meeting the conditions that confront us? What fundamental changes have been wrought during the past 63 years of epoch making history may well give the people of Indiana occasion for profound thought. Our i population has more than trebled, j We have developed from an agriculj tural people to a cosmopolitan commonwealth. largely industrial. in 1861 our largest city was New Albany, with only 7,786 inhabitants. Madison was second with 7,714. Indianapolis had 7,686. There were only nine cities of more than 2,000 people. Today most of the counties of the state can boast a metropolis greater than these frontier towns, and almost onehalf of our entire population is in towns and cities. The city of Indianapolis contains about one-third the entire population of the state when our present constitution was adopted. This tendency from country to city is rapidly increasing. From 1900 to 1910 our city population Increased 30.5%, while our rural population decreased 6.5%. During these 63 years our factory laborers have increased from 14,432 to over 218,000; our annual manufacturing output, from $18,922,565 to $679,000,000; our Investment In manufacturing plants, from $7,760,402 to more than $260,000,000. The so-called manufacturing plants of 1861 consisted principally of small individual shops and mills. The total jUte tax levied at that time was $450,411.78. It now exceeds $6,260,000. Th« 212 miles of railroad which existed in 1850, 124 miles of which had been constructed the preceding year, have expanded to a network of steam and electric lines threading every portion of the state. Indeed, the past 63 years have taken us from the realm of the stage coach and the tow : path canal, and the accompanying simple life of that day, to a highly complex state of society) calling for adequate machinery of organisation to direct it. Our immeasurable progress in education, science, inventions and wealth has created problems that could not have been foreseen in 1851. The inevitable logic of growth and change has compelled government to concern ltr self with the most intricate and complex relations of personal and property rights. There was no problem of public utilities then. It is a most vital one now. We were not troubled with the floating foreign vote, and the machinery of elections was comparatively simple, Our need of safeguarding the suffrage could not have been foreseen. Oar antiquated general property tax, which was then fairly suitable to the simple property forms of that day, is wholly inadequate now. The problems of city government, then of little moment, concern us tremendously today. These and other vital matters are involved ih the matter of calling a constitutional convention to bring our constitution up to date. We shall have the opportunity this fall In voting for a constitutional convention to register a demand for modern forms of government.

HERMAN C. ROGERS -Progressive Candidate for-Judge o< 30th Judicial Circuit.

Since February 3d, 1903, the taxpayers of Newton county have paid out on account of law suits tried on change of venue from other counties, the sum of $3,627.20. The law requires the Judge to allow and certify these costs to the counties owing this money, and that it be Paid back quarterly. In spite of the law, and in spite of a heavy i»enalty imposed for failure to comply with it, there has not been a settlement since Judge Hanley has been on the bench. No doubt the same condition exists in Jasper county. This money belongs to Newton county. Why has ft not been collected? There are four terms of court a year in each county in this,circuit, composed of four weeks each. Out of the 24 days in the present term of the Newton circuit court the Judge set cases on only 9 days. Out of the first two weeks of the term only one day is occupied with the trial of cases. One day is vacant out of the third week and three days are vacant out of the fourth week. In order that all cases might be set for trial in the remaining nine days, it was necessary to set 29 cases for trial on one day, and on other days as high as six and seven cases. Such a calendar permits the Judge to absent himself from the court, and this term is no

exception iq that respect. Oases are being carried over this term on the pretext there is no place on the docket for them. Considering that the Judge is paid a salary of $3,500 a year, to whom does this lost time belong? I take the position that this time belongs to the people for the transaction of their business, and not to the Judge. On April 31, 1914, Job Miller was arrested, charged with unlawful possession of intoxicating liquors. The case is No. 1945. The sheriff’s return shows that he seized five barrels of bottled beer a^ J 'the property of Miller, took it into his possession, brought it into court and held it subject to the order of the court, The law provides that on conviction for this offense, the court sluall order the liquors destroyed by the sheriff. It has long been rumored that this beer was no longer in existence and could not be produced for destruction, and this rumor was brought to the attention of Judge Hanley last spring. Nothing further happened in this case until the 1 3th day of October, 1914, when, as shown by the record, the case was dismissed. There were other cases against Miller, but the case dismissed was the only one which might make it necessary to produce and destroy the beer.

Judge Hanley has been Judge of this court for twelve years and is now asking for support from the voters on his record for another term of six years. You will either approve or disapprove this record by your ballot on the 3rd day of next November. What changes in the management of the court s business has Mr. Darroch either suggested or promised in case of his election? I have outlined my position on all these questions pretty fully, and if I am elected Judge, the changes to which I have called attention will be made, and I ask the support of every man who honestly believes that some reform is needed in this most important office. Very truly yours, HERMAN C. ROGERS.