Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1908 — STATE PRESS COMMENT [ARTICLE]

STATE PRESS COMMENT

The Republican state press Is greatly pleased over the ticket recently named at Indianapolis. Many of the Republican editors have been prominent in the remonstrance fights against the saloon, and their enthusiasm over county local option is therefore but natural. Efforts are now being made by the party leaders to get expressions from throughout the entire state as to how the platform is being received. Within the next month they expect to have Information that will enable them to formulate their plan of campaign. Whatever may have been the personal views of the various successful candidates in the state convention, it is apparent that none of them care to sidestep the issue of county local option, but, on the contrary, are ready to go” the limit for that proposition. There has been no time during the last ten years that the Republican organization was not in good working condition, and no time is being lost in training It to the minute for the fight next November. The Chronicle candot agree with certain of the Independent newspapers of the state that James E. Watson will not make a strong, a growing and a triumphant candidate for governor. We believe that before the campaign has far progressed the party will congratulate Itself upon his nomination. It is evident that a good many Republicans believed from the beginning that he should be nominated —that if the matter had been left to a popular vote, divested' of all other Issues but the personality of the men involved, that he would have been chosen as the standard bearer of’lhe party by a clear majority over all of the very strong field opposed to him. It is no mean candidate who conld win so handily over such s field.—Marion Chronicle.

The action of the Republican state oonvention tn / adopting a county local option plank Is taken In response to the demand of the people that the present temperance legislation be strengthened. The day of the rule la state or county offices of the brewery has passed, and It is but a question of months until this same Influence shall have passed in the cities and towns. The saloon has brought this on itself by its attempt to dominate the legislative and executive offices and its notorious violations of the law. The country will be more peaceful and far more prosperous Just in proportion as the saloon evil Is subjugated.—Huntington Herald. 7 The platform adopted by the Republican party of Indiana in its state convention will be the basis on which will be built the main features of the national platform. The question of tariff revision, the most important of the party Issues which will prevail during the campaign, is stated emphatically and unequivocally, and a wise and satisfactory date of revision Is suggested by the Indiana platform, which is fully in aoeord with the revision sentiment of the party throughout the country. No better statement of the party’s attitude and purposes can be made in the national platform. Elkhart Review.

The state convention of the Republicans of 1908 will pass Into history as one of the greatest the party has ever held in the state. It was a convention abounding in situations of great Interest and hard fights, and the most encouraging feature is that with the defeated candidates and their friends there are no grievances; all battlas were fairly fought, fairly woo and honestly lost—Attica Dally Ledger. The platform states in most forcible and clear terms the feelings of Indiana Republicans on every question of Importance before the people. There is no mincing of words and the Issues are met squarely and without straddling. platform Is the work of many free-handed and earnest discussions by the rank and file as well as the politicians.—Martin County Tribune. The letter of Vice President Fairbanks to the Hon. Jesse Overstreet sounds the keynote of tariff revision. It is the talk of the whole oountry today and li hailed with approval and satisfaction In every quarter. It will undoubtedly meet, as It will merit, the Indorsement of the national convention at Chicago in June.—Newcastle Courier. At the present time the Democratic party appearn to be standing on a very unsafe platform. In fact, there Is not a solid plank left. —Warren Review.