The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-03
Much Information that Will BE Of In
terest to the Voters of All Par
ties i'm Indiana.
COMPARISON OF PLATFORMS
NOT MUCH GOOD FOUND IN THE
DEMOCRATIC DOCUMENT.
An Innovation in the Political Meth.
DDS of the State-Subjects that
Are Discussed.

An innovation in political methods in In
diana is the booklet to be issued this week
by the Republican State committee in
which not only State-issues, but the Indiana
end of several of the national issues of 1902,
are discussed. The edition will be limited
one, and is intended primarily for speakers.
The matter is in large part statistical.
Much of it has been included in the news
paper service sent out by the Press Bureau
of the State committee. feature of
special interest is afforded by the statistic
al tables, nintey-two in number, covering
industrial conditions, wages and prices in
every county of the State in 1902 as COM
pared with 1896. These tables, which are
prepared under the supervision of Secre-
tary Whitaker, of the State committee,
show a marked advance in land values in
every part of the State. great increase
in the market value of farm products,
number of men employed in manufac-
turing establishments and wages paid to
operatives and farm laborers. While in
creases in prices of ordinary articles of
consumption are also shown, they are not
so great as the growth in the purchasing
power of the people. AS the pamphlet
states: mot only is the purchasing power
of days work in field and factory, great
er to-day than under the only Democratic
national administration of which this gem
Grafton knows anything, but, what is even
more important, the days work is to be
had" 1t is shown that an outfit of farm
machinery can be bought as cheaply in
Indianapolis to-day as in 1897 and when
prices are expressed in the quantity of any
given farm product required as an equiv
al nf & hos. he
prices of these articles are in effect only
half as great as they were six years ago.
Shoes and clothing, quality considered are
no higher in indianapolis to-day than six
years ago. In drygoods and hardware the
increase approximates 10 per cent. "but,"
as the phamphlet states. when it is re-
membered that in few cases does the in
crease represent more than the increase
in wages paid to operatives, the farmer
and the wage-earner, themselves sharers
in general prosperity. are not likely to
STATE PLATFORMS
In the opening pages of the booklet the
State platforms of the Republican and
Democratic parties are set forth in par.
allel columns. A discussion of the Demo-
cratic State platform follows, in which il
is described as "a document of denuncia-
tion.' The platform of the Indiana De-
mocracy for 1902" says the writer, lis not
a declaration of principles upon which it
proposes to better conditions, but a series
of complaints concerning Republican ad-
ministration. Denunciation and condem-
nation. divorced from any definite pro-
gramme which promises improvement, do
not invite the approval of men of sound
Judgment. Yet here are excerpts which in
dicate the character of the Democratic
State platform of 1902: Plank I've de-
nounce;' plank 2-'We denounce;' plank 4
We denounce:' plank 5-'We oppose
we are also opposed and we are
also opposed; plank 6-'We condemn and
denounce; plank s-'We deplore;' plank II
We deplore We denounce.' MIA M
live denounce;' plank 1--we oppose ::
plank 19-'The vicious and cool prostitution.
etc. merits condemnation plank d
We call attention to the reckless
and dangerous etc; plank 21-'we con-
denim.
The platform Is taken up paragraph by
paragraph and Democratic profession Is
contra3ted with Democratic performance In
state and national affairs. The contrasted
tarif declarations OF the Indiana plat
forms are given attention In q special ar