The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-02-28
WITH THE EDITORS.
Legislature Conservative.

The laws passed during the present
session of the legislature, considered
In connection with amendments pro-
posed to pending measures. reflect a
conservative sentiment that is far diff
ferent from the radical and somewhat
hysterical cutlery heard two years age
The present session is influenced bv
the reactionary Judgment that natural
~ follows the exaggerated talk of re-
FORM and the allegation that all men
are corrupt We believe that there
is grave danger of the pendulum
swinging too far toward conservatism.
put certainly it makes no mcve toward
radiealism. On the theory that the
present session is reactionary It is
easy to see and explain the course Of
legislation.
At the time both parties adopted
their platforms there was a reform
wave sweeping the country. Neither
party dared to deny the need for radi-
cal changes. During his early admin
istration and in the campaign Govern
or Hanly made US feel that things were
In a very serious condition, indeed.
and that he had come along In time
TO save the commonwealth from wreck.
The popular belief was that there had
been vast amount cf graft and cor
ruptfon in state government There
always will be for room for improve
ment but the theory Of rottenness was
founded on a fallacy. for Indiana had
been well governed There isn't a
state in the Union that can point to
a better record for conscientious ad-
mtnistration of public affairs. The
states finances, the school system and
the management of the benevolent in
stttutiOns testify to the character of
and conditions it was impossible for
the people of the state to believe radi-
cal measures We're necessary.
Now 1t must not be concluded that
the Legislature is not enacting remedial
legislation for such conclusion would
be far from the truth. But it must be
confessed that the action is conserva-
tive. The insurance bill in it's present
shape restricts life insurance compan-
les and provides for state supervision,
but 1t isn't revolutionary The pri-
mary election bill if 1t passes will be
III SuCu shape as 10 make primaries
optional with the great majority Of
counties; the reform idea was to make
the primary compulsory from national
election down. This would have up
set all political traditions. The pub
lie depository law is being amended
in the hope CT doing justice to all con-
cerned and saving the people the in
terest on their money. After careful
consideration the anti-lobby measure
has been killed. This bill, if it has
become a law, would have made it a
very serious offense for the worthy
citizens of any community, to appear at
the legislature against some measure
that threatened them injury; 1t would
have punished the good citizen with
the wicked one. In all the legislation
that now seems likely the principle
tdea--the reform idea-has been
preserved. The antitrust law as
amended by the senate may be an ex-
ception but that shouldn't be judged
until its strength can have test in
the court. The conservative spirit in
legislation is not to be condemned.
Even though 1t may produce results
Objectionable to some it is much safer
than a revolutionary spirit that
would upset established order without
judicial consideration of all the evil
dence.-Lafayette Journal.