The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-29
THE LEGISLATURE.


1t is by no means improbable-indeed it is
reasonably certain-that the complexion of
the next Legislature of Indiana will be deter
mined by the result of the election in Marion
county. If the Republican candidates are
elected the Legislature will be Republican,
and if the Democratic candidates are elected
the Democratic party will control the General
Assembly. Should the latter result be brought
about, or should any of the Republican candi-
dates be defeated for any reason, it means the
reelection Of Senator Voorhees, for the next
six years to the United States Senate. But it
means more than that: it means legislation
dominated by the Democratic party for the
people of Indiana. Now, whatever
may be individual opinion as to
the merits and qualifications of this or
that candidate, there is no intelligent citi-
zen of the State who does not know that the
best legislation the State has ever had has
been by legislatures dominated by the Re-
publican party, and the worst legislation the
State has ever had has been by legislatures
dominated by Democratic Legislators. The
journal is not blind to the fact that there is
dissatisfaction with parts of the Republican
legislative ticket in this county. 1t would be
Supremacy silly to ignore this; and because of
that feeling of dissatisfaction we ask the vot-
ers and taxpayers to run over the history of
legislation in this State and see if the propo-
sition we have laid down is not i'm
pregnabe. 1t is also fact that the
individual members of the legislative
delegation count for but little. The legisla-
ton of general character, in which the peo-
pie generally are interested and which affects
them as citizens and taxpayers, is determined
upon party lines, almost without exception,
and it is not, therefore, the individuals so
much as the representatives of a party that
voters are called upon to choose between.
Take the last infamous Democratic Legislature
as an instance. Where was the individual
Democrat who raised an effectual voice against
any high handed measure that was introduced
and passed under the party lash' Was there
Democrat who voted against the rape of the
benevolent institutions Was there Demo
crat who voted against laying the general
appropriation bill upon the table, as menace
to the Governor-a motion that defeated the
appropriations and threatened the integrity
of the State administration? We appeal to
sensible men. What can be gained, in a
practical way, by voting against any of the
Republican legislative candidates, except to
assist by so much the possible election of the
Democratic candidates, and the placing of mat
party in control OF the General Assembly,
which will elect Democratic United States
senator and conduct the business of the State
in the same revolutionary and partisan spirit
which animated them in the last Legislature,
of infamous memorya
An attempt has been persistently made to
misrepresent the attitude of the Republican
candidates respecting certain matters in which
the people of this locality are particularly in
terested-the laws limiting taxation and for
the consolidation of certain offices of the city
and county. The convention which nominal
ed these candidates passed the following reso-
buttons, forming platform upon which they
ask for the votes of the people, and which no
honorable man would dare violate after cleo
ton:
Resolved That the Republican party of Marion
county Endorses the declaration of principles as ex-
pressed by the party in State and national conven.
tons. That favor the enactment of a law in rela-
ton banks and bankers by which depositors may
be secured from loss and the business of the country
protected from bank failures.
THAT opposed to any change of the laws linn
tng the indebtedness and rate of taxation in the city
of Indianapolis and that favor the restitution Of
the law limiting the rate of taxation in Marion county,
and that favor any reduction in the cost of gov
eminent in State, county and municipal affairs, and
the consolidation of any offices which is not detri
mental to the public interests and the rights of the
people governed
That favor such amendment of the metro |
payers of the cities embraced in the provisions Of
said law and who are taxed for its maintenance the |
right to designate the persons by whom such law |
shall be administered maintaining the principles of
political division of the board construed by the
law in force"
This was certainly explicit enough, but to
make assurance doubly sure every candidate !