The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-02-25
Bad Work in the Senate.

The democratic state senate on Thurs
day dealt the democratic party of Indiana
a severe blow when it defeated Senator
MAGEE's bill TO regulate the selection OF
employees of the benevolent institutions.
1t is not in the power of the republicans
of Indiana to do the democratic party of
the state so grievous an injury as the
twenty-six democratic senators inflicted
upon it when they voted down this emf
nently just, wise and righteous measure.
1t is amazing that men who profess to be
sagacious politicians. who are familiar
with the recent political history of the
state, who are acquainted with the wrongs
which have been psrpetrated in our he
nevolent institutions under shelter OF the
barbarous and infamous system of patron
age, which has converted them into
asylums Tor crossroads bummers and
ward heelers, who know how much odium
the democratic party has had to carry,
much of it unjustly. because of the abuses
growing out OF the existing system-it is
amazing we say, that men priding them
selves upon their sagacity as politicians
should, when the opportunity was offered
them, decline 10 relieve their party OF
burden so oppressive.
The democratic senator's who voted
against Senator MAGEE's excellent bill
committed an act OF political folly so gross
as to DO almost criminal. The defeat of
this measure will cost the democratic
party thousands OF votes at future cleo
tons. No party can hope to hold its own
in this state which deliberately sets itself
against the moral sentiment of the peo-
pie; which plants itself across the path
way of progress and reform; which OBJ
structs measures in whose behalf every
consideration of humanity, decency and
common justice demands.
We say to the twenty-six democratic
senator's who voted down Senator MAGEE's
bill that they have placed the democratic
party in false position before the peO-
pie: that the great democratic masses of
Indiana do not approve their action and
will not sustain them in it; that the rep
resentative democratic newspapers of In
diana will not apologize for it or de-
fend it in any way. There is, in
1t is a manifestation of peanut politics"
in its most cruel and offensive FORM That
Eort of politics is, thank Con, pretty well
played out in Indiana, and the politicians
who practice it, and the party which toll
crates It, viii, sooner or later-and more
likely sooner than later-come to grief.
We have no doubt that many of the
democratic senators who voted TO kill the
Magee bill did so thoughtlessly because
of some prejudice against civil service re-
form, or some exaggerated idea of the po-
litical value of the patronage of the benevo-
lent Institutions. But whatever motive
actuated them, they have shouldered an
unnecessary burden upon the democratic
party. Let no one doubt that such Ia
measure as the Magee bill will. in due
time, be placed upon the statute books OF
Indiana. This legislature refuses to do this
righteous thing, but the next legislature,
whatever its political complexion, will do
it. Mark the prediction. The people OF
Indiana, without regard 10 party, are de-
termined that the insane, the idiotic and
the other helpless wards OF the state shall
not continue to be the victims of the bar
barism which is now practiced under the
shelter of the spoils system in our public
institutions. Democratic senators may
not realize the condition of public senti-
ment on this question, but The SENTINEL
does, and as a democratic journal which
believes that it serves its party best when
it serves its state best, it warns the legis-
lature against repetition of such serious
mistakes as the senate made when it de-
feated the Magee bill.