People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1895 — Indiana Liquor Law. [ARTICLE]

Indiana Liquor Law.

Editor Pilot: In last week’s tiepuoncan we tind the following: “The people naturally look' to the republican party for legislation because .vhatever work has been accomplished in that direction was originated and fostered by ReiM* icans. What will be dcifSttl he coming legislature is fMp suit to determine, but thiUk to be no special or unive& sal demand for a change in present law and probably •# change will be made.” Following this the Indianapois Journal is quoted as saying, •‘The Republican party never passed any temperance law in Indiana as a party measure, tn 1873 both branches being repub.ican, the Baxter law was passed but not as a party measure. In 1875 the democrats being a majority in both houses, that law (the Baxter) was repealed and the present license law, which was dictated by the saloon interest, and written by Senator Turpie, as their attorney, passed as a party measure, the democrats at the preceeding election making the repeal of the Baxter law a part of theii platform.” Now Mr. Editor, what puzzles us is this; if, as the Republican says, “the people naturally look to the republican party for temperance legislation,” why is it so anxious to show by the Indinapolis Journal that “the republican party never passed any temperance law in Indiana as a party measure?” Again, if the democrats gave us “the present license law which was dictated by saloon interests,” and it took the place of the Baxter law, passed by the republicans, is it that the Republican says “there seems to be no special or universal demand for a change in the present law and perhaps no changes will be made?” The democrats, by the Republican’s logic, did a good thing when they repealed the republi can Baxter law and gave us “s law dictated by the saloon interests” for no effort is to be mede to change this law,by “the oarty to which tlJe people natu ; raly look for temperance legis- ; lation.” The Republican, it appears to us, wants to say go®c Lord and good devil. Had i 1 stopped with the first sentence in the above article, or rather, bad it said nothing at all on the subject, it would have been muct more respected by both temper ance and intemperance people, Prohi.