The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-21
Two Joint Caucuse..


Two Joint Caucuses.
There will be a joint caucus of the Re-
publican members of both branches of
the General Assembly this week for the
purpose of considering what action shall
be taken toward placing the institutions
Of the State ON a non-partisan basis. There
the subject of what shall be done to re-
deem I'll the pledge gt+1 IN the party platform
of politics. How to place the State institu-
tons on non-partisan basis and still leave
is the problem the caucus will have to
solve.
A joint caucus will be held this evening
for the purpose of settling the question Of
employees and employees salaries
Legislation Asked by Workingmen.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
TERRE HAUTE Ind. Jan. 2O-A largely
attended mass meeting of workingmen was
held at the courthouse this afternoon to
hear addresses on the question of legisla-
ton against child labor and convict con-
tract labor. Among the speakers were Rev.
r. V. Hunter and Rabbi Lyons. Resolu-
tions were adopted calling on the represent
a az , from TINS county In the LEGISLATURE
this subject and also for compulsory edu-
cation of children between the ages of seven
the men present, as well as in numbers, it
was the best meeting of workingmen ever
held in this city.
County Seats In Danger.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
The papers in the north part Of the
State friendly to the Superior Court bill
are trying to deceive the people by stating
that the bill is intended to have jurisdic-
ton in the three counties-Lake, Porter
and LaPorte-is to be kind Of court
TO 40 oIc a<, ,f1
is all false, and they know it. These con-
tinual raids on the county seats are an
outrage. They are driving away capital
from some of the best towns in the State.
These wars on the county seats are a men,
ace to all business enterprises. The State
should defend, and, by just laws, protect
the property rights of the people. The bill
introduced by gilbert in the House, to
create Superior Court in Lake county,
business from Crown Point, the present
county seat, to Hammond, leaving nothing
ultimate removal if the bill becomes a
law, for If the court business is gone,
what use is the courthouse? Crown Point
for nearly sixty years. has been the seat
Of justice for Lake county: is in the center
of the county, has a fine courthouse built
and paid for by the men and women whose
thrift and industry made Lake county.
Hammond was not in it. The site of that
town was then sand ridges and sloughs.
settlers have big stake in the matter
which the Legislature certainly should re-
spect. Hammond is on the State line,
partly in Indiana and partly in Illinois, in
the extreme northwest corner, five miles
from Lake Michigan. fifteen miles from the
center of the county and thirty-one miles
from the south end of the county. Per-
sons doing business at the Hammond court
would have to travel sixty miles, going and
returning The farmers and cow men, the
wealth producers, come to court at Crown
Point in their own conveyances. Hammond
people can get to Crown Point in thirty
minutes by the Chicago & Erie railway,
and cheaper than any other residents in
Lake county. Hammond papers conceal
their plans no longer, but say they will
yet have the courthouse. Then, goodbye
to Crown Point" After Hammond was de-
feated, four years ago, both parties agreed
to bury the Ratchet and have peace. This
had a marked effect on Crown Point.
Streets were paved with cedar blocks, an
electric plant built, furnishing street lights
and to stores and private dwellings. More
and better residence buildings were built
than at any time before. All this goes to
show that in all towns, If they are to
prosper, there must be stability, no uncer-
tain condition. Property rights must be
secure. Speculative adventurers must not
be allowed to levy the county
towns, but must be beaten back by the
State Whens the Legislature takes this
stand it will be felt all over the State,
and the county towns will flourish and
prosper as they never did before
BARTLETT WOODS.
Crown Point. Jan. 81