The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-27
Nicholson Bill I'm the senate.
TALK WITH NICHOLSON.
Expresses His Belief that the Bill Is
Good Party Policy.

Expresses His Belief that the Bill Is
Good Party Policy.
Mr.. Nicholson was seen after the vote on
the bill and naturally expressed himself as
being highly pleased with the vote in the
House.
''The vote shows said he, "the intense
feeling there is all over the State with ref
erence to the matter. Several members
who, two or three weeks ago, would prob
ably have voted against the measure, felt
that they could not satisfactorily represent
their constituents in voting against it.
IA report in a paper yesterday that not
more than 10000 people had signed petitions
asking for the passage of the bill is mani
testify unjust. On the contrary, after hav-
ing counted a number of the names on the
petitions, / am convinced that the number
is much larger than has yet been reported.
The number already introduced in the
House will not fall short of 5000, more than
$1,000 of whom are voters, not to say any
thing of the number that are now in the
hands of members. In addition to these,
petitions to the number of several thousand
have already prayed the Senate for the
passage of the bill. In all, estimate that
not fewer than 10000 or 1900 voters have
already asked for it's passage.
From the number of letters that have
received. saying that the people are almost
unanimous in many localities for the BILL
1 ,candidly believe that tn. ee-fourths of the
people OF the State are in favor OF the
measure.
in position to touch the pulse of the peo
pie he has little idea of the intense earn
estness that exists throughout the State.
The people have been so Icing subject to an
adroitly written law, full of loopholes,
through which every man who desires to
violate the law may escape, that there is
no demand general
a better law The fact is, the Nicholson
bill is law and order measure, that af-
feets only the volator of law and gives re-
lief to such communities where the people
are tired of saloon domination"
What about the effect upon thesRepub-
'sAs Republican, who loves his party,
1 get impatient at the charge that such
measure is going to injure the party The
by turning it's back upon law and order
and the moral sentiment of the better ele-
ments, to pander to the liquor power, espe-
cially the law-defying element of this class
A great injustice has evidently been done
the German citizens Of the state IN the dlS-
cussion of this subject. l have talked with
many of them, and | do not believe that
there are any appreciate number OF voters
in the State of this class who are going to
leave the party because it stands for law
and order and good government. The float
ing vote in this country are no longer the
two-dollar men, but the men Of ideas who
refuse longer to follow the party that
plays false with their requests. The time
has come when the balance Oh power IS
with the better elements, and as they vote.
parties succeed fail. This has been
shown in New York State in the elections
of 1898, and in New York city in the cleo
ton last fall 1t was shown in Cincinnati
last fall and in numerous city elections
throughout the State and country.
II may be considered wild and visionary,
but having been in politics in Indiana
through eight campaigns, [ know that L am
not mistaken in the matter. The Repub-
vanced ideas, or it is nothing. Let it cease
to promote the best welfare of the people,
and 1t will go as have other parties which
have made the same mistakes. Let it con-
tinue to be leader in public thought. and
it will continue to meet the public APP
the people No one denies this. And be-
cause of this fact, neither the Republican
or Democratic members can afford to vote
it down, even from the standpoint of party
expediency."