Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 103, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 March 1916 — INDIANAPOLIS NEWS LETTER. [ARTICLE]

INDIANAPOLIS NEWS LETTER.

By Willis S. Thompson.

Indianapolis, March 23.—-Congress-man John A. AL -Adair, Democratic candidate for governor of Indiana, expects soon to be on the ground and starting his part of w hat promises to be one of the most vigorous campaigns ever waged in the state. He will visit every spot in Indiana where he can be assured a large or small audience or where a few people want to discuss with hint the issues of the campaign. Me is a great believer in the wisdom of meeting the people when your cause is right, lu th:s instance the Democratic party has nothing for which to offer apology. The party has a record of which to boast and one which the opposition dares not attack. Woodrow Wilson grows more popular every day. His policies all bear the test. The great reforms he lias instituted even his strongest political opponents must admit are greater than all ,tbe grand old Republican party in all the years it was in power ever did for the people. With the advent of the Wilson administration the era of class legislation passed out of existence, Labor, capital, big business, little business and all others are protected and regulated in a sane manner and honestly encouraged and enforced. The greatest asset the* Indiana Democracy carries into the campaign is the record of the few years in the party has held- all the state offices and has held a majority in both branches of the' general assembly. The state in these Democratic c ears has had more progressive legislation than in any thirty or forty other years combined since Indiana became a state. These laws have every one of them demonstrated the wisdom of the legislatures in their enactment. In operation all these laws have proved of great value to the people. And the debt of over two millions of dollars which the Republican state administration accumulated and left behind, and which the Democrats have entirely wiped out is a thing which no Republican candidate, orator, editor or literary bureau can answer. No Re-

publican can advocate the repeal of anything the Democrats have established and get the people to believe them sincere. —o—o — The state department of public istruction has just issued a very interesting pamphlet, attractively illustrated, telling of the actual works being done under the vocational division, described especially as ‘ home project works.” It treats of agricultural and domestic science instruction, both in the cities and on l the farms.' It is largely devoted to what is accomplished during the months of ‘‘summer vacation.” For instance, there are “boys who j did not attend school because they j had lost interest.” In a few weeks, ■ finding they might learn a trade in 'addition to their regular studies, they returned. In one locality, when tomatoes were selling in Indianapolis at 20 j cents a bushel and were being given away at the farms, a family or boys ! got some cans and “put-up” the fruit from a small patch, realizing net about SIOO. | Other boys who "never did any.t! ing but loaf all summer'' were I u.sy raising hogs or growing 'small truck on patches in front and back yards. Girls were taught to make bread and sew and -“do other things of practical value about the home. Tim report of seven vocational agricultural teachers who ‘‘worked during vacation" show that the young--*ters who were ‘ taught at home” lad a “labor and products income” from their employment while studying amounting to $12,001.12.

o—o —- | Philip. Zoercher, reporter for the supreme and appellate courts of In- , cian:>. is reading proofs on tike 39th appellate and the 183 d supreme court reports. These complete the record of the two courts to November 13. 1913. and this is as close as ’’ * s possible lo bring these reports to date. When Philip Zoercher was a candidate for reporter of the upper courts in 1911 he called the attention of voters to the fact that the printed records of both these courts were fully two years behind the records and if the thing continji ed at the same rate another two 1 years they would be behind’ at least three full years. He promised if he was elected that he would bring both courts down to date before the end .of two years. He has kept his promise as has every Democratic official ;in the state house. He has more , than kept his promise. He has caught up within a year and his reports are the most complete that appear .in the supreme or appellate court library. These reports are most important in helping the practice in all courts of the state. This is why all the lawyers and judges in Indiana would advocate keeping Philip cher forever in the position of supreme and appellate court reporter.

Frank Hitchcock is working the same old lines that he used to travel In political manipulations. He is lining up the state delegations to the national Republican convention .for Theodore Roosevelt. In Indiana and Kentucky he lets them handle themselves and stick to Fairbanks, knowing the buttermilk boy will not

get dangerously rar in the race, Where no favorite sons exist he lines them for Hughes, because “Hughes can get the German vote.” Hughes will not accept and if anything were needed more than the statement already made by the supreme court justice, this very sort of campaign would make him impossible. So when the time comes Hitchcock will be there with the Roosevelt boom. Of course men like Fairbanks and Healing, and Watson and New and Goodrich and Hays and the rest of the Indiana standpatters say no in a loud tone of voice. But this is not June and .the Roosevelt roller is not yet in thorough operation. Watch them carefully and see them name the Oyster Bay Colonel.