The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-27

REPRESENTATIVE JAMES E. WATSON.
Chairman of Republican State Convention, Who
Delivered Keynote Speech.
we should give 1t will result in a mutual
exchange of products to the advantage of
both, and in ultimate control of
large part of the mighty commerce of the
future on the Pacific ocean.
Philippines Will Pay.
assert unhesitatingly that the Philip
pines will pay. The natural resources of
those islands are beyond computation. An
area of land greater in extent than Eng
land, Scotland. Ireland and Wales COM
bined; ten thousand square miles greater
than Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Rhode Island, Massachusetts. Connecticut,
New York and New Jersey put together;
with soil rich and climate so genial
that all the tropical products we must have
flourish there in unfailing luxuriance under
the kindly warmth Of the sun Of summer,
and the winter time as well: with bound
less forests of the finest timber on earth
yet untouched by. those implements of
advancing civilization, the ak and saw:
with several harbors upon which the COM
bined fleets of the world can ride at ease;
at the very center of the future CONNER
cial activities of the Orient-why will
enterprise there not pay? Why will it not
bring rich returns? The report of the
Philippine Commission says that last year
the actual waste in the illimitable forests
of the Philippines amounted TO 1900 000, 900
feet, or one-third more than the entire cut
of timber in the United States in 1903 Ma
ture has been prodigal and lavish in the
Philippines and all those mighty resources
lie there waiting for the magic touch OF
the American hand to spring forth into the
most marvellous commerce of the world.
And the Republican party proposes to
rise to the occasion and meet the mighty
responsibility. Will our Democratic friends
contest with on this proposition this
year? If so, what policy will they an
nounce? What do they propose that our
they assail us, let them first define their
own position. and. If it be other than ours,
the American people will have no difficulty
in deciding the contest.
State Issues.
Will the battle with the Democracy this
year in Indiana be waged upon the ques-
ton of State issues? 1 imagine not. for
the machinery has been running so
smoothly that nothing can be found for
even a Democrat to criticise. We point
with pride to the unexampled administra-
ton of our splendid Governor. Winfield T.
his administrations in all affairs of our
State so economical, his enforcement of
law so just and impartial, that he is enti-
tied to naught but the highest commenda-
ton and the most unstinted praise.
The overshadowing events of his entire
| official career and those which brought
| forth the warmest commentator from all
parts of the country were those having
reference to the suppression of riots in our
| State. His unequivocal declaration with
reference TO the maintenance of the law,
/ rfK1r Iat4r
| the statutes of the State, and his undeviat-
! ing adherence 10 the principles of Justice
and right, had the most salutary effect not
| in Indiana alone. but throughout the land:
and message of congratulations came to
| him from the loftiest station in the world
| For his conduct in this matter he cannot
| upheld. 1t is the safe repository of our
| liberty; it is the sure guaranty of our free
dom. BY ii and its rigid enforcement we
must either stand or fall. The violation of
| It's last analysis. anarchy. Governor Dur
| bin, with an alacrity that is always to be
commended, and a zeal that is always to
be praised, entered upon the work of en-
| forcing the law and did it so effectively
and at the same time so Judiciously and
wisely. that his action will have a bene-
| fetal effect in the State of Indiana through
| out the coming years.
! Governor Durbin has continued the debt
paying policy of the Republican party in
! augurated by the lamented James a.
Mount. In 1895. when our party took
| charge of the affairs of this State, we were
| incumbered with debt of S7,520,6l5 Under
| the wise management of Governor Mount
we discharged S2.215,OO0 II that obligation
| Since Governor Durbin entered upon his
executive duties, we have paid off s.. 352. 600
! of that Indebtedness, thus relieving the
| people from the great burden of the debt
| itself and from the large annual interest
charge which We inherited from the Dem
| ocratic party. 1t is certain that before the
| close of the present administration the
State debt will be obliterated except for a
| series of bonds. aggregating in amount
| 81 900 900, which do not mature for severaI
| years. All we want with that debt is an
| other chance at II. and We will wipe il out
| utterly. The man whom we shall nominate
Tomorrow will, during his administration.
be able to report that the State of Indiana
| is one of the few commonwealth in the
| Nation no longer burdened with a debt.
| Then and not until then we afford the
| luxury of a Democratic administration TT
| is necessary for the Republican party
| TO succeed the Democratic and discharge
the obligations they always make. as it is
| to enact a national bankruptcy law after
a national Democratic administration.
Fee and Salary Law.
The enactment Of the fee and salary law
by the Republican Legislature of 1895 abol-
ished the fee system as an official perquisite
and saved unnumbered thousands of dollars
to the taxpayers of Indiana. In the office
of the secretary of state alone there was
| collected in fees during the last year a total
of S137. 59OSS every penny of which went
| into the treasury of the State. instead of
| into private Golfers, in accordance with a
| custom long prevalent in Indiana. The to-
| tai disbursements of this Office aggregated
! in the past fiscal year only Sl6193 And In
| the office of the auditor of State we find q
| like condition. There was collected there
| during the last fiscal year in fees an aRgre-
| gate of 1910. 1905. every dollar of which was
turned into the state treasury and the to-
| tai expense of maintaining this office. with
| its enormous aggregate of business was
/ only S19,5l312 In eight other bureaus and
| departments there was collected and turned
| into the state treasury an aggregate Of
| nearly $4,000. and in the Department of oil
| Inspection alone $32, 900 was last wear con.
| tributed to the state treasury, although he.
| fore the first day of January, 1903 not one
| dollar had ever been received from this
| source IL has remained for Indiana under
| the wise management of Governor Durbir
| and the benefcient statutes of Republfcar
| legislatures to set the example of makine
| a public office not only public trust hui
| an actual profitable investment to the ia
paying public | desire to commend to his
| successor, whom you shall nominate the
| following extract from his last message
| which shows the high plane upon which he
| has conducted the complex affairs of on,
| great State, and which is worthy of repe.
| tition here and on every stump in the an
| preaching campaign:
Not only in the receipt and disbursement
| of taxes and fees is there care and iudg.
| ment TO be exercised. but paramount on
legation TO Loyalty adhere to the require.
ments of the statutes must be enforced