Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 May 1902 — PARAGRAPHIC POINTERS [ARTICLE]

PARAGRAPHIC POINTERS

To Senator Fairbanks belongs the honor of introducing in the senate a resolution making an appropriation,for the relief of the people of the devastated Island of Martinique within a few hours after the extent of the disaster at St. Pierre became known. This resolution would have passed both houses -Qi -congress the same day but for the. objection of Representative Underv, ood of Alabama, who insisted that ccngress should await “official information” before going to the relief of homeless and starving people. Of the Fairbanks resolution, which was steered through the house by Representative Hemenway, the Gaulois of Paris, said: “Of all friendly manifestations, the most brilliant and the most touching are certainly those of the United States. The great people beyond the ocean have again proved that feelings of humanity and generosity are among the noble qualities upon which they pride themselves. This fine example of human solidarity touches us profoundly, and we are'happy to note it in this unforgettable circumstance.”

The interest of every voter in good government from a tax-paying standpoint is in direct proportion to the nearness of that government to him. The honest and economical administration of state affairs is of vital concern to the citizen and should not be lost sight of, even in the excitement o! a campaign conducted on national lines. Good government ought to begin at home. In the management of the affairs of the state of Indiana a series of four Republican legislatures has madS a record for honesty, wisdom and economy unexcelled in the legislative annals of this or any other state. The people of Indiana are not ready to reverse a policy which has been of such signal benefit to the commonwealth.

Nothing better indicates the prosperity of the people than the patronage accorded so" the newspaper. When Hard Times comes to a community the first place he hunts up is the newspaper office. There is significance in the fact that despite four years of exceedingly “hard sledding” for Indiana publishers during the decade ending vzith 1900, there are now nearly twice as many wage-earners employed in the printing and publication of newspapers and periodicals in this state as there were in 1890. In 1890, 2,628 persons were employed in this industry; in 1900, 4,485; in 1890 there was invested in the business $3,589,513; in 1900, $6,093,191.

Senator Dolliver expressed in a few words the attitude of Republican leadership toward the Philippine problem when he said recently: “The time may come when we will in sheer exhaustion abandon our work in the Philippine Islands. Our burdens have been grievous, and sometimes I have thought they have been almost too heavy to be borne; but If the time ever comes for us to go, our retreat will be taken up in an orderly way and it will not be conducted by the men who have defamed the uniform of the American army in the senate of the United States.’.’

The first platform pronouncement in favor of the erection of a state soldiers’ and sailors’ monument was that of the Republican state convention of 1884, w'hich declared: “We favor an appropriation by the legislature for the erection of a suitable monument to the memory of the loyal and brave sens of Indiana who gave their lives to save the republic.” That desire has been fulfilled In the dedication of the most beautiful military memorial structure in the world. The state debt in 1895, when the Republican party gained control of the fiscal management of Indiana was $7,520,615.12. After seven years of Republican administration the state debt is today: $3,887,615.12. - «