The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-03-22
LEGISLATIVE REFORM.
Views of Democrats on the Question of
Securing Better Legislatures.

The following letters from correspond
ents will explain themselves. The first is
printed anonymously because it was sent as
a private letter:
EDITOR SESTINEL--Sir: Your leader in
paper of 18th is the occasion of this letter. l
am not writing tor publication but for private
use, as noted. The interest feel in party sac
cess is, / think. sufficient apology when IL Is
considered that have, since 1916. always voted
the democratic ticket, was q mem er OF the leg
isature in $40 80 and have since at various
tunes been "a mem Der OF each house OF tue gen
eral assembly.
Please do not understand that am claiming
by seniority the role OF monitor in pOliIios.
am acting on the suggestion contained in your
article referred to. Nor do 1 assume TO dictate
or suggest the manner Of conducting a news
paper. far . il is private
terprise, but wherein IL is party
organ all of the party have an interest
and. therefore. right to be heard. Now on
the topic unter discussion, j. e.. the last legis-
lairre. permit me to say in all caudor. | do not
think the course OF The SENTINEL has been
either Just or wise. | was present at the leeis-
lature part of two days. sufficient to observe
their general appearance, and have kept close
watch of their proceedings, and am satisfied that
as e body it would compare favorably with
other Legislatures in the last forty years. They
have no doubt made bundeTs and ON ssions p
which others have not? You say IL failed
meet public expectations. The wonder is. they
have done no worse. The public expect more
than can be realized. Take body of men
selected from all classes, from all parts OF the
state most of them without experience in pu hlic
s1rvice. give them only sky days to organize,
then 10 educate III the duties before them; aud
against they have casually looked over the
score or more of the public institutions of the
state and have formed a slight personal &C
Quaintanoe time is called and they must quit
aud 20 hosne. Ii only skilled and experienced
men were selected we could reasonably expect
more but slch practice is not in accordance
with the splrit OF our institutions. or with the
popular will. liz is common 10 designate ex-
perIeneed politicians as ''old rats" rin-s;ers
and belonging TO clQues end combinations.
and therefore the people are warned 10 select
new and noorrupted material fresh from
among them.
Therefore. I say the last legislature was a
fair average. They were the people ;
choice and are entitled to a more fair
and indulgsnt consideration than The
SENTINEL. mas given them. The members can
not be impugned and rebuked without at the
same time rejecting upon their constituents.
The poop often GO wrong and make mistsk es
in public policy. as well In selecting weak
representatives, but newspapers do the came
thing and are to be watched the same a re pre-
sentatives. Mutual advice and counsel are
good, but an assum ption OF being always right
and im perious air in giving counsel is not
wholesome advice. Newspapers might learn a
valuable lesson by considering the recent case
OF the California legislature In removing the
capital. 1 frankly say that the course OF the
SENTINEL 10 the legislature wss no credit 10
the state, and bodies good to the party.
have no personal interest in this matter. 1
have not shown this letter to anyone and don't
propose to, and it don't need a reply. Ii is
strictly private. Yours respectfully.
ANONYM,