The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-11-15
THE EXAMPLE OF NEW JERSEY.

THE EAAIlPLE Oh NEW JEfsSE1s
The Republican State of New
Jersey has thus early issued an appeal to
the member of the Republican Legislature
OF that State urging them to take up and
carry forward the reforms which the people
demand and voted for at the last election.
Not only should the legislation which the
race-track people secured through the last
Democratic Legislature be promptly re-
pealed, but the accumulation of laws by
which scores Of unnecessary officers have
been created and local government has been
made expensive and inefficient. Attention
is called TO the wastefulness attending the
management of State institutions, as well
as to the fact that the State government
was conducted in the interest of the few
who held the offices and State employment,
regardless of the efficiency of the public
service. the public welfare and the burdens
OF the people.
The conditions existing i'm New Jersey are
much the same as in Indiana The Demo-
cratic managers had So gerrymandered the
legislative districts that they assumed that
there could be no political upheaval which
could deprive them of ascendency In the
Legislature. In some respects the gerry
mander of New Jersey was, on It's face, a
greater outrage than that of Indiana. Power
established by such a gerrymander as de-
prived a large percentage OF the Repub-
licans of a voice in the election of the law
making branch of the government, the
Democratic managers started out on a
reckless career. Stringent and publicly APP
proved license laws were repealed, the gam
bling and demoralizing infamies of the race
track companies were protected BY law,
and a horde OF henchmen were fastened
tron the taxpayers. To the protest of the
decent people they retorted, What are you
going to do about it?" They had little
doubt Of their ability to carry the Legis-
lature, and did not feel the least apprehen-
sion until a few days before the election.
when they discovered that an aroused peo-
pie would make their election frauds i'm
possible in the large cities. In Camden the
armed toughs of the gang drove decent
voters from the polls, severely injuring sew
eral. But when the votes were counted,
Tuesday night. these reckless managers
were amazed at the extent of their defeat.
The result in New Jersey should be an
example and an inspir alton for the Repub-
Leans and the taxpayers of Indiana. Twelve
years of Democratic control in the legis-
ls.ive department of Indiana has fixed
many abuses upon the people. The greatest
of these is the great wrong of the gerry
maRGer. That control has largely increased
the expenses Of the State institutions, as a
comparison will show. 1t has increased the
State debt while other States have been re-
ducing such burdens. State Institutions are
filed with inefficient henchmen, some of
whom sell prison labor to the lowest bid
der and swear to certificates upon which
material is paid for before delivered. If the
Republicans of Indiana present the voters
of the State with a ticket of able and pub
lic-spiritei citizens, and give a solemn pledge
to undertake needed reforms, they can car
~ the State next November.