The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-02

he declared: You can fool part of the
people all the time, and all OF the people
n part of the time, but you can't fool al
the people all the time That sentence Is
quite pointed to-day as when 1T was
first uttered. and IL is likewise equally as
applicable TO the PoDocratic leaders who
are Just now so active in trying 10 dis
tract public attention from previous blur
ders by flying a new flock OF soarecrows on
the shabby pretext that they are political
issues.
NATIONAL AND STATE AFFAIRS.
LAS this is a presidential year ii natur-
ally follows that national issues should
enter largely into the campaign The
people of the whole country are vitality IN
terested in the policies and methods pur-
sued by the administration at Washing
ton. There has been adverse criti-
cism of the President and others in author
ity, but it is nothing more nor less than
might naturally be expected of partisan
critics whose prejudices overwhelm every
sense of justice. During the civil war
President Lincoln abused and op-
posed by the same class or pohtlcdl
guerrillas who have taken advantage OF
conditions arising from the Spanish Amer
lean to traduce President MCKINLEY
and others in authority. That KIND OF on
slaught is one of the penalties or great
war with Spain, eliminating in the extern
sion of this Nations authority TO Cuba.
Porto Rico and the Philippines. was prose
cuted with vigor and intelligence, ana
when ensuing complications are finally adj
justed, as they will be with all possible
expedition, the unbiased historian VIII
grant TO William Mckinley and his sup
porters a need of well-earned praise that
will cause his name TO be written hlgh up
on the scroll of fame with those OF Wash
ington and Lincoln
But, as citizens OF lndidna, we ,, ale
particularly concerned in our domestic wei
fare 1t too frequently happens that We
go too far away from home 10 ma cause
for complaint concerning the admlnistra-
ton of public affairs, just as some orators
indulge in language so grandlIoquentiy
glttering that they cannot be understood
except by those who have made n1elonS
study of the dictionary. For example, we
find something in the line of domestic
economy to reflect upon when we take
into consideration the fact that the aver
age tax levy in the ninety-two counties
of Indiana is $50. In that amount the
State proper shares to the extent of IL
cents The cost of maintaining the State
government for the last fiscal year was
s., De, 36S.ef, which represents a falr aver
age. So small levy Tor such great
expenditure is convincing proof of what
may be accomplished when the income is
as judiciously and economically managed
as 1T has been by the present state al
ministration. We are disposed to COM
plain of tax-payfng, and we sometimes
go the wrong direction in search OF the
cause of burdensome levies With the
State providing for the maintenance of
all it's institutions, paying the salaries of
its many officials, including, also, the
rapid reduction of the public debt all
from a levy of IL cents. 1t is obvious that
the Republican officials now in control are
conducting the business of the people on
business principles. The administration
of State, county, township and municipal
governments is deserving of being con-
eli aro In no lferhr of CT
proposition. They are, in fact. simply
business corporations on large scale, in
which every taxpayer is stakeholder.
and IL is the duty of the stockholders TO
protect their interests by selecting direc-
tors and officers of proved capacity for
dealing with large affairs-men who are
known not only to be efficient, but also
incorruptible. If a stated number of men
in the ordinary vocations, be they pro-
moters, professional men, farmers, or what
not, organize a stock company. they are
exceedingly careful to select officers who
are believed to be prudent. economical,
competent and honest. And so il should
be in the election of men to discharge
important responsibilities devolving upon
them as public officials. 1t sometimes hap
pens that man is successful at office
seeking who has been a failure at every
thing else he has undertaken, and ii not
infrequently happens that his inefficiency
and shortcomings cause deepseated regret
among those who voted him into the place
regardless of merit, and for otheD>f'ea-
son, perhaps, than that he had gained
the reputation of being "a good fellow.
EXTRAORDINARY CONDITIONS.
'"The administration of Governor Mount
has encountered extraordinary conditions
that compelled extraordinary expenditures
The mobilization of Indiana's quota OF
troops for the Spanish-American war en-
tailed large drain on the treasury, and
only a part of that sum has as yet been
refunded by the Federal government, al
though the whole of the States claims
are being adjusted as expeditiously as pos
sible. Appropriations by the last General
Assembly were unusually large, made
necessary by the increasing demands of the
penal and benevolent institutions; but not
wlthstanding these expenditures, since
Governor Mount was inaugurated the State
debt has been reduced 81 Sic, 900, with $500 0OC
more to be applied to the taking up of
Outstanding bonds before the close of the
present year. The Importance of this
wise and prudent management of the
States fiscal affairs is forcefully presented
when We realize that this cancellation of
oDlgations results In saving of interest
alone aggregating $S7,650 a year That is
one of the results of a high standard OF
economic and honest administration by
men who are in thorough sympathy with
the principle that public office is a public
trust, and who not only preach but like
wise practice the doctrine that the inter-
ests of taxpayers should be safe-guarded
by the application of business rules that
are so essential to the welfare Of indi-
vidual pursuits and private enterprises. II
may be stated here without reservation
tnat the success of the Republican party
In Indiana on next Tuesday will insure a
continuation of the splendid record made
Dy the present administration in the adj
mlraDle management of the States finances
ana the economic. nonpartisan conduct of
public institutions.
IT Will require something more substan-
tlai than reckless clatter concerning So
called mflitarism and imperialistic buga-
DOCS TO convince taxpayers that a change
Is needed In the management of affairs
OF Indiana. Governor Mount and his Off
clal associates have made a record that
cannot be assailed, one that is deserving of
unstinted praise, and the people may be
depended upon to turn deaf ear TO the
hysterical appeals of popocratic orators and
newspapers. vainly striving to create SEN
timent in favor of their obviously unten-
able contentious. 1t is a noteworthy fact
that the Democratic party has held two
state conventions since Governor Mount
became Governor, but in neither instance
could the platform makers find excuse or
courage to utter word of criticism of the
present administration. The next admin
lStration, which Is also expected to be Re-
publican, may be confidently depended upon
TO continue along the same lines of pru-
dence, economy and fidelity to the best in
terests of every class of citizens.
Issues for which the Republican party
has heretofore contended have been vindi-
Gated in degree that is highly gratifying
to those who tlazed the way for the steady
advancement of material development and
the broadening Of intellectual life In the
lastly contended for a stable currency as
SureG by the action of the present Con-