The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-15
PRIVATE J0E'S INAUGURATION.
He Is Installed as Governor of Illinois, and
Delivers Short but Pointed Message.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Jan. 14.-Hon. Joseph
w. Fifer was inaugurated Governor of this
State at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon, in the
presence of the House and Senate in joint
session. His message was quite short and
devoted to but three subjects-protection
of the ballot, labor and the public schools
After fitting reference to the great serv-
ices of his predecessor and to the laurels
won by him In war and peace, the new Gov
ernOr considers the protection of the ballot
and urges the adoption of legislation by
which the man who buys a vote shall be
made the chief offender IL either must es-
ant one who did the selling. He believes
at all events both should be made equally
guilty, and the prosecution allowed to
choose which one it will proceed against.
the labor question. The duty of the State
to the wage-wOrkers is acknowledged, and
the attention oe the General Assembly
invited to the need of legislation
TO secure the safer construction
of miners and to provide for the settlement
by arbitration of disputes between employ
er and employed. On the subject of trusts
the Governor says:
The industrial tendency of the age is against
individual enterprise and toward great and per-
manent establishments based upon combined
and aggregated wealth. These have given rise
TO new industrial cOnQltl0ns not contemplated
by the founders OF the State, the proper legal
regulation OF which could by no human forecast
have been provided for before they arose. To
the legislative wisdom and sound discretion of
this age falls the duty of enacting from time to
time such laws as these rapidly developing in
dussrial conditions require Tor their regulation.
Present evils must be corrected by peaceful
means and not by a resort To force
He therefore heartily approves of the law
commonly known as the nti-Pinkertonian
measure, and says it has been respected and
enforced since its passage.
Governor Fifer calls attention to the
wrong done the working classes by the ad-
Heves the general government should pass
more stringent laws on the subject. A State
can do something by providing that none
hat American citizens, or those who intend
to become such, shall be employed on the
public works of the State. There are per-
sons in Illinois who are not and do not in
tend to become citizens. and he believes
they should be Disseminated against in
favor of ''our own laboring people"
Then the Governor deals with the most
important subject of education. He speaks
of the propriety of a law requiring a higher
standard of education on the part of the
teachers and also recommends the adoption
of some better means to bring the children
into the schools. If the present compulsory
education law Is a bad one, 1T should be re-
pealcd; if good one, it should be enforced.
The masses must be educated and the for
eign element assimilated. That leads to
the consideration of the dangers of anarchy,
which education is one of the means of
averting. Another great battle is to be
| fought out on this c0ntinent--a war of law
| and order against lawlessy,ess and disorder
of morality against immortality, Of religion
| against irreligion."