The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-08-27

throw the viii of the INA fide resi-
dents of that ward, whereas, under
the present system, such practices are
reduced to the minimum.
And, in these days of good roads and
modern methods OF travel, one wet
ward in any city is equivalent to a
wet county That is tse very thing
these gentlemen wanted. else why did
they favor that system as against the
existing one? There is no other an
swer
In the fourth place their proposition
would repeal the existing law, because
local option by election and local option
by remonstrance cannot both operate
at the same time, and in the same ter.
ritorial unit Suppose, for instance.
that the first ward in the city of Fort
Wayne holds an election under the
Democratic plan and votes wet. Can
someone opposed TO the result set out
the next day or the next week or the
next 'mcnth, with a remOnstrance in
the same ward with a view to having
a re-trial OF the question? And sup,
pose that majority of the legal voters
in the ward should sign the remon,
STRANGE, which would control the
wet" election or the dry" remon,
STRANGE?
To Satisfy Wicked Demands.
It is very evident that two different
methods Of determining the same ques.
ton cannot operate in the same unit
at the same time, but that one or the
other must cease to be operative or
practical. In this instance there is not
a thinking man who does not know
that the remOnstrance law would pass
out Of existence and the election legis
lation stand. In my Judgment, the pas.
sage of such proposition as embodied
in the Democratic platform would re.
peal by necessary implication the ex,
listing law, but, even if that were not
true. it cannot be disputed that in
practical effect it would work the com
plete overthrow of the remonstrance
legislation known as the Moore law
Why should this be done? But for
one reason, and one only, and that is
to satisfy the demands of those who
are opposed to further legislation on
this subject. There can be no other
basis for such proposed action.
The present law is we'll understood
by all our people, for multiplied thou
sands of them have taken advantag &c
of it's provisions. Thousands of Dem
ocrats In Indiana have taken advan
tage of this Republican law to express
their wish with reference to the saloon
question in their locality, and l want
now to warn them that, if the plank
proposed in the platform of their party
should become the law in Indiana. the
statute that has enabled them to riG
themselves of the saloon in their vari
Gus localities will be wiped from the
books, and thus the method by which
they have been permitted to achieve
the result they have so long desired
will no longer be. available, but will be
wrested from their hands by those who
are unalterably opposed to all restric
lions on this traffic.
The Republican Party Demands.
The Republican party this year de
mands that the majority of the people
in the county shall be permitted, at {
special election held for that purpose
to determine whether or not theil
county shall be wet or dry. What are
the reasons for this movement? Ward:
in the city can, within certain limita
tons, be changed by the city council
Townships may be changed by board.
OF county commissioners at any time
These units are therefore not fixed anC
invariable, but depend upon the within:
of the persons who control them anC
who cSn practically alter them a
will 1t is conceivable that, where
townships or wards in cities are
voted dry, and those who have thu
power to gerrymander township O.
ward lines are opposed to all temper
ance legislation, it is conceivable,
say, that they could alter their town
the will Of the people. and have a
least one wet ward in city or we
township in the country against tn,
manifest wish of the majority Of tn.
people in the city or in the township O.
in the county. This cannot be said O
the county unit. It is q well-knowl
geographical unit and a well-definet
territors&l unit. The people in tn,
county are usually a homogeneous pee
pie. They come together oftener TO
all purposes. than the people Of an,
other unit known to our system @
government. Farmers usually trade a
the county seat; the young men an,
the young women from the farm con
stantly visit the town; county conven
tons of all kinds are held in the cen
ter Of population. which is usually tn.
county seat People in the count,
come together for commercial pur
poses, for social purposes, for politica
purposes, and for all other purpose!
more frequently than the people 0
any other geographical unit, and ar,
better acquainted with the wants ant
desires and wishes Of one another thai
the people OF any other unit.
Prime Unit of Government.
Licenses are issued by county com
mtssioners, portion Of the county ma
chinery, and the people in the count,
ought to have the right to say whethe
or not their machinery shall thus OF
To-