Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 June 1915 — EFFICIENT AND WISE EXECUTIVE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

EFFICIENT AND WISE EXECUTIVE

Governor Ralston’s Record One of Achievement. GAVE STATE USEFUL LAWS Man of Broad Sympathy and Democratic Manner, Learned In Law, Has Exerted His Influence to Beneficial and Constructive Legislation. As one sits in the large reception room of the Governor's office at Indianapolis and sees the heterogenous crowd waiting “to ajje the Governor” lie appreciates anew, or possibly for the first time in his life, the democracy of our form of government. One knows that he is there to get an interview from the Governor, for whatever he has to say is of interest to the • public, but what can all the others want with him? Here is an old woman with a shawl of ancient pattern about her shoulders. She asks if she can see Governor Ralston, for her son is in prison and is needed at home. She is told by the secretary —and they all, rich or poor, look alike to Secretary Johnson—that the Governor is now engaged, but that she can see him presently. Here are a half dozen working men who believe they have not been given a square deal by their employer and they want to present their, case to the Governor, for they know he is eminently a fair man and that if ho believes they have been wronged, will do what he can for them. The important little fellow over by the window is a local politician and he wants to “see the Governor” about a job—and the man next to him is a member of the legislature and has a pet bill he wants the Governor to advocate —and tne next one to him is the representative of a big corporation who thinks liis company is suffering from restrictive legislation; and so they come from all walks of life and on all sorts of missions. And the Governor will see them all and listen attentively to what they have to say.

It may be well said here that the Governor was particularly fortunate in securing for his secretary a man ot mature judgment. Mr. Johnson has had years of experience as a newspaper man and is held In the highest esteem by all his fellow scribes. At the time he was called to the secretaryship, he was engaged in business and has an intimate knowledge of the business affairs of the state. He is always alert the interests of the administration with which he is so closely associated. At last you are told by Secretary Johnson that it is your turn to "see the Governor,” and as you receive his cordial greeting you wonder “What manner of man is this,” tnat men ana women of all classes look to him for counsel? Tall and broad and sincere, he stands squarely upon both feet, courageous, and ever alert to any situation, and impresses you that he Is every inch a Governor. Shortly after his inauguration as Governor, one of his little friends was told that Mr. Ralston Is Governor now that he had just been made Governor and she quickly responded, No, he wasn’t, he was born a Governor.” And so he impresses one that he is by nature a Governor of men—a man who “can talk with crowds and keep his virtue, or walk with kings nor lose the common touch.” And it Is because of this broad sympathy and democratic manner of his that folk from all stations or life feel free to confer with him. There is no frigid formality to be gone through in order to gain an audience with him, and the ease with which he receives callers is often commented upon. Governor Ralston’s strength of bodyand mind and his ever readiness for instant action have given him a wonderful mastery over the details. W his office and made him a most excellent Judge of state and economic problems. In his inaugural address, January 18, 1913, he said: “Unless the law Is enforced, constitutional guarantees become but the dreams of our fathers and the most sacred rights of citizenship have nothing secure upon which to rest. Before the law the rich and the poor, the capitalist and the laborer must stand upon an equality. As Governor, I shall have no favorites in the execution of the law, and let it now he understood that I shall hold that the mind which devises a scheme that is in violation of law 13 guiltier than the dependent hands that execute the offense in obedience to orders.” Next year Indiana will celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of her admission into the Union, and she is proud that she has called Samuel M. Ralston for her Centennial Governor. No other Governor of Indiana during her one hundred years of state-

hood —with the single exception of her great ttar Governor, Morton—has been so continually confronted with situations that would appall a man of less courage and Strength as has her Centennial Governor. With a hostile press of opposing political faith in the state capital, ever ready'*’to misconstrue his every act and to pervert the truth, Governor Ralston has never lost his head nor permitted himself to he drawn into its quagmire. Kipling had such a man in mind when he wrote: "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, "If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you and make allowance for their doubting, too, “If you can wait ana not be tired by waiting or being lied about don’t deal in lies,. _ _____ “Or, being hated don’t give way to hating and yet don’t look too good nor talk too wise,” And so this man does not lose his head when being lied about —nor does he become impatient when a newspaper maliciously seeks to place him and his acts in a false and unfavorable light. In the main, the papers of the state without regard to party faith, have given his administration loyal support. But what., of his administration and what has been accomplished in it? At the time of his inauguration the legislature was in session and one of the bills before that body was a public utilities bill. When that measure was in the senate it was the subject of many conferences and much delay was had in bringing it to a vote. It has been subsequently disclosed that it was the plan of those opposed to the bill to delay action upon it until too late to secure the passage of a desirable utility measure. One of the means by which those opposed to the measure sought to throttle its passage was a secret caucus. The Governor learned of this and gave out a public statement in which he said: “I wish the Democratic senators who stand for the right sort of legislation on this subject would favor calling off the caucus on the Shively-Spencer bill, so that the proposed amendments to it might be fought out in the open on the floor of the senate. The people are entitled to know where the Democratic party stands on this measure and if this bill is to be amended before its passage, so that It will be worthless as a law, or if it is to be killed, the people are entitled to Know the influences” that defeated the public will."

Needless to say, he carried his point and secured the passage of the best public utility law of any state in the Union, {this law is ably administered and saves to the public many times its cost each year. It puts a copscience in the management of public service corporations, it prevents them Sjorn being looted by promoters and dens%h3s front them a fair service at a fair price. ' *- -■ ,'■ I • T 'n _ . ~-S2flotiler masterpiece or constructive legislation is the Vocational Education Act passed in 1913. Prior to its enactjnent only those oovs and girls who are able to go away to college were afforded an opportunity to receive training so as to equip themselves to do the things they most liked to Undgr this act the boy and girl are now able to receive at least elementary instruction in that art or craft to which they are most adapted. This act alone has saved to the school more boys and girls than any other in the history of the stale—not even excluding the compulsory educational act. The boys and girls now go because they are permitted to do things they like to do and that will fit them for earning a living. The United States Commissioner of Education said In his report: “In what is probably the most comprehensive statute yet enacted the Indiana legislature established a state system of vocational education giving state aid for training in industries, agriculture and domestic science tnrough all day, part time and evening schools.” None can attack the Justice of this law for it makes real the boasted educational advantages of the state to the great of boys ana girls who work in the mills, factories, shops and on the farm and in the home. No other act since the establishment ol our common school system nas been so l great an influence upon the social and economic life of the state. With these two acts' alone to its credit the Democratic party might point with pride to the, present administration for years to come. But there are many more of equal merit. In fact, there has oeen more constructive legislation enacted In Indiana during the present administration than in any previous adminis•tration in the-history of this state. It is estimated by insurance men that two-thirds of the fire loss of the country is due to preventable causes. In orcLer to save that two-thirds of the fire loss in Indiana the 1913 legislature enacted the Fire Marshal Act. which is administered without cost to the people of the state and saves to them thousands of dollars annually in reduced insurance premiums and fire losses prevented. In order to more equally distribute the burdens of taxation, an inheritance tax law was enacted. Un-

di-r this law the rich estates which do not bear their full share of taxation must now more nearly do so. This law will bring to the state treasury approximately one-half million dollars annually. Another subject of much needed legislation was a law to prevent loan sharks from preying upon the poor. The law enacted permits the loan agents to charge a rate or interest commensurate to the risk incurred, but it prevents them from charging such exorbitant rates as was formerly their custom. In keeping with Democratic loyalty to our public school system, and supplemental to the uniform text book law passed by a previous Democratic legislature, the legislature of 1913 passed a uniform high school text book law. Prior to its passage different high schools used different text books and the books wejre frequently changed in the same school. The exactions so thrown upon the poorer students were severe. The uniformity of the books in all high schools of the state and at a greatly reduced cost in a boon to them. I Indiana, for a decade, had neglect-! ed to enact an up-to-date law applicable to commercial paper. She bad grown to be one of the great com- 1 mereial states of the Union, but it 1 was not untii the present administra- 1 tioii that she took her place as the: forty-fifth state»to pass a uniform 1 negotiable instrument law. , ' i It is to the credit of the present | administration that Indiana now stands in the front rank of all the* {States in way of progressive legislation upon the correctional institu- 1 tions of the state. In the passage ol 1 the penal farm law the jail system—• 1 always unsatisfactory and never eco-: nomic —lias been, in a measure, sup- , planted by a correctional institution,! the state penal farm, which has been the dream of social workers. The, good resulting from that law can be measured only by the measure of good citizenship resulting thererrom. The entire nation will follow Indiana’s lead in this movement. The 1913 legislature also took cognizance of the right of every child to be born and reared in a proper environment and to that end passed the housing law. requiring all landlords to furnish to their tenants Sanitary quarters wherein may fie had the privacy of a home. I So many good laws were passed by that legislature that The Indianapolis News on March 11, 1913, said editorially:

“We owe to the legislature an j 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 hous- ! ing 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 only legislature of the state rivaling the one of 1913 is the 1915 legislature. At that session were passed some laws of vital interest to the public. i The first important measure to be passed by the 1915 legislature was the anti-lobby bill. The members of the legislature realized that they are but the agents of the people and that lawmaking is public business and that the public has the right to know the motives of those advocating or opposing a measure. Under this law lobbyists are required to be registered with the secretary of state, stating the name of their employer, the charac ter of their employment and they are restricted in their operations. , It is a well-known fact that immediately after the passage of that act that there was an exodus of the lobbyists from the state capitol and that ths legislature was freer from

the insidious activities oi those gentlemen than has been any legislature in recent years. No political party will dare lessen the safeguards thrown about their servants by that law. That legislature also responded to the public will and provided for the election of United States senators by the direct vote of the people.Heretofore those who have been unfortunate enough as to become injured w T hile engaged in industrial pursuits have had to look to the courts for damages on account of the injuries sustained by them. This was true, regardless of the negligence of the employer. Oftentimes the case would drag along In the courts until the employee would be quite recovered from his injuries or else dead from old age before a final judgment was secured and then the costs of the case would consume a considerable portion of the amount recovered. That this evil might be corrected, the legislature passed the Workmen’s Compensation Act, providing a fixed rate of compensation for those injured while engaged at their usual occupation. Under that law the workman Is assured of a certain per cent, of the wages in the event of tern nor arv disability or of a definite afnount in the event of permanent disability or death and that, too, without resort to the courts, He knows that if he should he killed while at work that his family will be paid In accordance with the scale provided by that act and that they will receive a competency to secure them from want with out the hazard of a law suit or the payment in Costs of the major portion received, That act is beneficial to both the employer and the employee. While it is a protection to the employee, it at the same time enables the employer to determine the risks of his business and to guard against them. Under the present system, the risks Incident to the business are regarded as a part of the overhead charge and Is carried as such. The law is proving of such great benefit to the industrial world that we wonder why it was not enacted years ago. The Democratic party, by its passage, again went on record as the friend of the workingman.

Another act of scarcely less importance to the employer and the employee and to society generally is the act providing for arbitration of controversies between employers and employees. This law jk as the direct outgrowth of the Indianapolis street car strike of 1913. The strike had, with premeditation, been called on the eve of the city election with the hope of embarrassing the administration by the necessity of calling out the troops to avert riot and insurrection. The Republican mayor of Indianapolis, through his police department, had utterly failed to preserve order and protect the lives and property of the citizens, and was insisting that the Governor call a special session of the legislature to secure the passage of a compulsory arbitration law. At the end of the third day of the strike no cars were running and the Merchants’ Association and the business interests of the city were demanding that the National Guard be called out to establish order and the union men were insisting that such action would precipitate riot and bloodshed such as never befQjieNhad been seen in the. state. Many threats Were made upon the life of the Governor in the event he called out the guard. The city and county authorities admitted that the situation was beyond their control. On the fourth and fifth days the rioting continued, the police made no attempt to maintain order or to keep the streets clear. Men had been shot down in the streets and dozens had been wounded and much property destroyed. The Governor had called upon the striking employees and the

traction company to adjust their differences, but all attempts at a settlement had failed. On the night of Novemfier 5, 1913, the Governor, beli-ving that the time had come for him to act, called out the entire National Guard of the state, with orders to assemble ’’ln the city of Indianapolis at the earliest possible hour, armed and equipped for duty in time of riot and tumult.” By morning it had become noised around that the guard had been called and the indignation of some of the labor leaders was intense. A meeting was called of the strikers and their sympathizers on the state house lawn at noon," November Gth, to protest against the action of the Governor In calling out the guard. A crowd estimated as high as eight thousand assembled on the lawn at the south door of the state house and was addressed by labor leaders for an hour and then a cry was started for -the -Governor,— When informed that the crowd desired to hear him, Governor Ralston immediately responded over the protest of his friends who feared for his personal safety. When he appeared upon the steps of the building an ominous silence settled upon the crowd—a silence that might break into fury against established law ano order or that might act as a pacifier of the passions of men. The situation was most intense. The Governor spoke without preparation and was most: effective. His speech broke the backbone of the strike. He said in part: “I would have different conditions here if it were possible for me to do so. I have not brought about present conditions, as you know, but I shall endeavor to avoid a repetition of them. If my life is spared, I shall take a stand at the next session of the legislature for an arbitration law that will arbitrate.’ The orderly course of society must not be interferred with by industrial controversies. "But I am now confronted with conditions requiring immediate action. On the 13th day of last January, and it may prove an unfortunate day to me, I took a solemn oath to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and that oath I propose to respect. You would not have me do otherwise. Within the last five days I have seen lives sacrificed and property destroyed in our streets and it is not for me to debate who is at fault. I know that life and property are not secure and that I must do what I can to make them secure everywhere in our state. The sacrifice of lives and property must cease and whatever course is taken will be to that end, and I appeal to you to uphold me—to uphold me in the enforcement of the law and the preservation of order.”

With order again established Governor Ralston again undertook to bring about an adjustment of the differences between the men and the traction company and within fortyeight hours the cars were again running and a permanent working agreement perfected. r V i. . - ■'l' The arbitration law will greatly reduce the chances of the recurrence of a similar situation. Soon after the adjournment of the 1913 legislature, Indiana suffered the greatest flood in its history. Hundreds of its people were rendered homeless by the waters, and property was damaged to the extent of millions of dollars. Governor Ralston, personally, assumed charge of the work of relief and for days he did not sleep; for an entire week his sleep amounted to but a few' hours. A telephone was placed at his bedside and he was in constant communication with those in active charge of the work of relief in the flooded districts. One of less physical strength must have failed. While the flooded area in some of our neighboring states was not as large as in Indiana, yet in one neighboring state more than $500,000 was spent in combatting the waters and in the relief of the distressed, while Indiana's Governor spent less than $15,000 of the state’s money, a greater portion of which was for the pay and sustenance of the National Guard detailed to relief and patrol duty. A large amount or money was raised by voluntary contributions by the citizens of the state, for the relief of flood sufferers. The whole of this amount was not expended for the relief of flood sufferers ancr nearly $60,000 is deposited at interest, to the credit of the Governor. The legislature of 1915 realized the ! need of legislation looking to the 1 prej vention of another flood and accord- ] ingly it enacted laws that will enable the different municipalities to effect- | ually protect themselves against an- ; other such catastrophe, f For years there has been a demand for a reduction in the costs of our state legislature. These demands were not heeded until 1915, when the legislature resolved to conduct its business in the most .economical manner possible! To that end it adopted rules that enabled it to save on legislative printing and supplies alone, approximately $15,000, when comparea with the cost of such printing ana supplies in the .last Republican legislature. By a manipulation of the classification of work to be done, the Republi-

can legislature vtrtuany gave rato tne hands of one firm the eh tire contract for the printing and supplies for the state. Upon the recommendation of Governor Ralston, a re-classification was made by the legislature so as to enable the printer having a small establishment to bid upon the printing and supplies for the state. This simple change in the classification for the printing will save to the state upon its printing contract, thousands of dollars annually. The last two legislatures passed more acts for the protection of the workingman and the betterment of his working and living conditions than any previous two legislatures in the history of the state. [To enumerate each of them and to comment thereon would extend this article beyond the limits assigned it. The drug habit has been a cuhse upon civilization for the ages. It was for Indiana, by a Democratic legislature, to lead out in the prohibition of the sale of habit-forming drugs. This act supplemented by the federal antinarcotic act, passed by a Democratic congress, stamps out the "dope” evil and restores to a healthy manhood and womanhood thousands of citizens of the state. Legislation has also been had during the last two years looking to the conservation of our natural resources and to the development of our live stock industry. Those legislatures, however, did not turn their attention to live stock and to the neglect of human beings. They passed laws providing for the prevention of tuberculosis; for industrial aid of the blind ; for the regulation of hospitals and tenement houses; to secure a supply of pure water; to establish playgrounds for children and to secure better sanitary conditions generally for the public. The social evil has attained to such proportions as to require the serious thought of all patriotic citizens. The subject has. been discussed by theorists and economists, but it remained for a Democratic farmer —a member of the house of representatives of 1915—-with the support of the Governor to secure the enactment of a law that effectually stamps out that evil and forever abolishes the red light district. The Governor of a great state must of necessity look to the needs of the several administrative departments for assistance in the administration of the affairs of state. Each Democratic state official, by the suffrage of the people, has measured up to the standard and well and capably discharged the duties of his office in perfect harmony with every other department of the state. There has been no j charge of graft or fraud —even by a ! Republican press.

In those offices filled by appointment, the Governor has exercised rare discretion in his selections. He has in every instance selected men of in- ' tegrity, character and ability for the positions he has been called upon to fill. Although his administration has more truly progressive legislation to its credit than any other previous administration, he has never neen known as an extremist, nor has he advocated any cure-all legislation. In one ol his pre-election speeches he said: “Those who know me well,. know I have great respect for the old landmarks of constitutional government and that it would be my ambition, if Governor, to keep the administrative policy of the state, in so far as I would have any influehce, true to the faith of the fathers.” Those who have followed the affairs of his administration know' how well he has fulfilled that promise. Neither is he disposed to parade the achievements of his administration, so far as he has had a part therein, in review before the people for public applause, nor to appeal to the prejudices of the people. One of the founders of our national government truthfully said: “That a dangerous ambition more often lurks behind the spacious mask of zeal for the rights of the people than under the forbidding appearance of zeal for the firmness of efficiency of government. History will teach us that the former has been found a more certain road to the introduction of despotism than the latter; and that of all the men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career ny paying an obsequious court to the people; commencing demogogues and ending tyrants.” There is no clap-trap or bluster about our Centennial Governor. He has pursued the even tenor of his way and his acts have met with the approval—with but very few exceptions —of the entire press of Indiana. Tlie opposition with which he has met from the press has been due to political reasons and to the fact that he would not receive his orders from the editorial room of any newspaper. Issues of vast importance have confronted him, and he has decided each one of them in accordance with his best judgment. Each day he has met the responsibilities of his great office in a complacent manner, content that his reward shall be the sweet consciousness of duty well done. GILBERT H. HEXDREX. Subscribe for The Democrat.

GOVERNOR SAMUEL M. RALSTON.