The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-12-12

the whole people OF the state instead OF
those OF very small minority.
Would Increase the Dignity.
The augmented body of electors would
increase the importance Of the office and
would enlarge not diminish. the import
ance Of those peculiar relations existing be-
tween the state and its senator. The leg
islatures Of the states formerly chose the
governors, VINO in turn appointed, by and
with the advice Of the state senate, all
the other principal officers. Gradually this
has been changed and the people do now
elect where the chief executive before ap-
pointed. VINO would now deplOre this
vast growth Of the democratic sentiment,
or would wish to restore either TO the leg
islature or to the executive those greater
powers which they formerly enjoyed. 1t
Is one Of the things best known and uni
versally conceded by us that the sovereign
~ OF the states, in their respective spheres,
the separate and equal existence Of the
states. the character and dignity Of their
governments. have been very materially,
UNNECESSARILY, improved and promoted by
TINS transfer Of power to the people
1t may be justly thought that our
present territorial governments approach
as near as anything else to the ancient
systems Of state government once pre-
valent. Yet how anxious are the people of
the territories for a change Of condition.
Statehood, the very name of state, is
SOuBuls eagerly desired at the earliest Op-
portunity as shield against and refuge
from those manifold Ills which always ac-
company an appointive government. The
extended area OF popular elections has
even more than the personal extension Of
the franchise added to the authority Of
state laws and politics. A United Safes
senator chosen by the people of his state
would be the highest exponent OF this
advanced type Of civil liberty, while at the
same time this change in our system of
cd. Il III i 4
thing else now projected 10 assuage that
dlsquiet, that uneasy spirit of multi
tudlnous dissent which I'm the last decade
has with equal hand imposed the ban OF
Its disple1sure upon all policies and all adj
ministra lions.
Age of Corporations.
MANY appellatlons or epithets have been
given 10 this time of ours. Perhaps one, as
appropriate as any other at least in our
own country, would be the age of incor-
porations. Almost every man we meet
now is a member Of some corporation.
The jurisdiction and province of these in
situations is no longer confined to great
enterprises, the construction of public
works. the distant transportation OF
freight and passengers, the opening OF
mines or quarries Galnful pursuits OF
any kind are seldom now undertaken by
chartered and organized for the manu-
fac.ure of almost every article, utensil.
implement or commodity sold in the mar
ket Not only the carrier, the wagner,
the brazier, the shoemaker, and the smith
have dlSdppcared-thc Workmen in every
art and mystery have vanished. The COM
plny has t3I--l their room and place;
they are forgotten or wholly merged in the
corporate life and service. Nor is this
strange transformation limited to matters
Nf Ia Afe fFafr al Irtt4
for Incorporation. this worldwide rid
dance of personality, this negatiOn of
private action. finds numerous objects for
It's exercise elsewhere. For the redress Of
overy wrong that IS done under the sun
there Is some society formed and duly
charterd. For tie cure Of every III to
which our race is subject. there is a body
corporate with its president, vice-prcsi-
dent and board OF directors duly ap-
pointed according to the statute in such
case made and provided
rs a pervading sense Of separate weak
ness the secret Of this rushing movement
toward co.ective effort and strength? If
So the men OF our generation must have
been marve.ous.y touched by their own In
trinity. Whatever may be the motive or
the reason for this tendency or condition.
It obtains This deuge of interpretations
las not only reached but covered every
field. valley and hight of human enter
prise. In the old antedi-uVian era, the
been some sect composed of merely men
been transmitted into bodies corporate
persons natura., individuals as such, have
persisted In the inundation.
Has Exerted an Influence.
This astounding incorporated condition.
thoroughly permeating the mass of our
people and their affairs. has not been with
out its influence upon this body and its
membership. Il has been widely bruited.
much TO our disparag that the legis-
lative electors, who under the present sys-
tenn create senators, have been in many in
stances singularly plant in the hands OF
the powers cOrpOrdte-these chartered prin-
ciples. Il has therefore been SAID that the
Grand Contra railway has chosen senl-
tor in a certain state; that the Grand Cen
trail bank has chosen another elsewhere
and that the Contra. association Of mining
and manufacturers has defeated or elected
a third. Nothing is intended to be as
sumed here concerning the truth or fa.sity
OF these assertions or accusations But
these malefcent charges have an existence
They are disseminated broadcast; they
have been for many years In vague
Their mere existence Is 4 grave mischief
and menace. very inimcal TO our legitimate
influence in the national councils. very de-
structive Of that purpose which the senate
was therein appointed 10 subserve.
1T may be asked. would you then have
a great dellberative chamber dissolved or
destroyed upon grounds OF mere rumor and
suspicion? Not at all. But I would have
such an assembly modify the law of is
formation so as to be rid Of these parnici1us
ard destructive inculpati1 Is. these very
serious hindrances to its public service and
utility. And when this radiance depends
upon our own action, and this action * de-
layed or frustrated. this also aggraVate5
every charge and affords additional weight
20 that burden 81 repro3ch and o0lOquy
which. however unjust, threatens to enCom-
pass us. The way Of this riddance is facile
plain clear. II the choice of the constituent
members Of this body were left TO the mass
Of voters In the state these perilous Grim
nations would be infinitely lessened They
would altogether disappear. No reasonable
grounds could be given for their support. In
that recent advent and invasion Of corporate
powers and tendencies OF which | have
spoken one person has at least survived Il
is the citizen voter. The uncrowned SOW
erign in the booth at the polls. Whatever may
be his artificial membership elsewhere, feels
that ne is there a natural member of the
commonwealth In which ne resides
"If he there recoiects his artificial rela-
tons or surroundings II is only 10 discard
them. He is for the nonce disincorpOrated.
In this one act he would be and is free, en-
franchised. and he votes accordingly. This
That