The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-02
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
what Can Be Done?

What Can Be Done?
To the Editor Of the Indianapolis journal:
There has been no concealment of the fact
that scores who oppose the liquor traffic and its
obtrusion in party politics. were disappointed at
the action Of the late Republican State con
vention certain it is that was among the
number. As yet. can but feel that the party
announcement did not 60 far enough. But that
Is an opinion, and / have long since passed the
day when I believed only my opinions and
methods were correct.
Now, the time is past for parleying about
what ought to have been done We are called
on to address ourselves to the facts Of the situa
ton as they are presented, If we would lay aside
pride Of opinion for the good of the cause sought
to be promoted If the resolution of the Repub-
lican State convention for constitutional CON
ventIon seemed vague and purposeless as to the
question uppermost in public thought certainly
the resolutions of the Democr attic State conven-
ton make the whole matter plain. The Demo
cratic party and the business league of the liq-
uor interests has clearly interpreted it. With
this plain condition Of matters before us. the
one question is, with practical men, what can be
donel
It is and has been the desire of tenn
perance people to get the question of
the liquor traffic before the voters Of the State,
IN the shape OF an expression in the organic law.
/ OlS party las declared FAVOR OF d In6bHOu Dy
which this can most quickly be done. The other
has made clear the definition Of their purpose by
giving as its reason for opposing constitutional
convention, that it is opposed to any eonstitu-
tonal amendment against the liquor interests.
Now, the question can be reached through aeon
stltutonal convention inside of ayeaR and a half,
or two years at most, whereas it would take
i've or six years to reach it through
Of the submission of an amendment
This fact must be clear as to time when the
matter may be reached. The next query IN the
process is, can Republican Legislature be So
cured this year to carry out this purpose, and if
so, howl Certainly it cannot be secured by
useless antagonisms and division of strength,
which would inevitably be the result in
ease of the formation of another State ticket
The majority in the next Legislature will have
exclusive control of the question of eonstitu
tional convention. State officers have no voice
in that matter.
Now it is q fact that the majority in the Legis-
lature OF 1881 was in favor of sending this question
to the people. After a hot campaign on this same
question Legislature in 1882 was elected in ia
vor OF II, and only by a pretext respecting the
record was the amendment defeated These
campaigns revealed the fact that the majority of
the people favored constitutional action; at
least Difference to the wishes of the people on
this question.
Now what does general do when he has
skirmished and accommodated the enemy's po-
sition, and finds he has the strength to storm
forces and send them in opposite directionsg He
would be condemned and court martialed after
defeat if he was not killed or taken
prisoner should he be so foolish.
| There are thousands of temperance Democrats
who have stood honorably by their colors in the
past two campaigns. In Sullivan and nearly e
I score of other Democratic counties, no Democrat
can be elected on the liquor traffic resolutions of
the Democratic State platform of 1884. If Dem
ocrats are elected in these counties, it must be
on pledges To favor constitutional provision on
this question and in opposition to their State
platform.
In my opinion the thing remaining to be
is to accept in good faith tho proposal for
a constitutional convention Make an effective
organization in every county in Indiana, and
throw the entire temperance vote to only such
candidates for the Legislature as will frankly be
pledged to vote forthe calling of constitutional
convention. Antagonize none of the State tick
cts but leave all free to vote for any State
ticket they prefer. The citadel of power is the
Legislature. Let us storm and carry that, and
not divert and divide our forces and strength in
| a series Of simultaneous attacks on unimportant
and insignificant points over wids field
Here is our hope. VIII we wisely avail our
selves of the only opportunitya VIII we concen-
trate our forces, mass our lines and capture the
citadel of powerl Let us be wise and consider
| ate. The leagued enemy utilities present organ
| ization. He never allows passion to drive him
into independent movements, and lose him his
allies, and scatter his forces and thus reveal his
weakness Let us be as wise
INDIANAPOLIS, July l. JOHN B. CONNER