The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-06-03

bition in spots. that you obtain from
the Republican candidate written
statement of law submitting to the
voters OF the county the question as
to whether a license shall issue in
such county for the sale OF intoxicating
liquors for a period of two years In
so many ways in the past, have l seen
the people beguiled by pledges made
in Republican platforms. which never
came 10 fruition in legislation, that |
think l ought not TO be charged with
unfairness when l declare that the
Republican plank with reference 10
the liquor question is a delusion anf
snare.
The Democratic Plank.
Go home, set out the Democratic
platform and see If il does not declare
in favor Of local option law under
which the people of city wards or
townships shall have the right 10 de-
termiue whether the sale OF such IL
Quor shall be licensed in their re-
spec,ive wards or townships for the
TWO years ensuing, by vote at spec
ial election. Then. turn If you will 10
the Republican, platform and see II
it does not declare in favor of the
enactment of a county local option law
extending to the people of the re-
spective counties OF the state, the
right 10 exclude the saloon therefrom
by vote at special election. What
does the word saloon" mean in a POI
ltical platform? Does it mean what
we commonly and ordinarily under
stand as a saloon? Does il exclude
therefrom clubs, hotels, restaurants
and other places in which, now, II is
possible for man 10 obtain intoxicat-
ing liquors?
| In other words. would the members
OF any social or fraternal club in In
diana feel that was a gentleman II
alluded to their club as saloon?
And would they feel that the Republi-
can platform covered their club when
1t declared upon the subject of the sa-
! loon?
Examine ii still further and see how
long they propose TO exclude. even
the saloon from the county. Is il for
80 days or 80 years?
Are politicians charged always with
being absolutely frank with the peo-
pie?
Why did they not use me language
that they would submit 20 the voters
in the county at a special election, the
question as to whether a license
should issue for the sale OF intoxi-
eating liquors?
Before deserving the ancient ideals
of the republic upon this legislative
question be sure that the Republican
candidate for the legislature has une-
quivocably put himself upon record
that the legislation which he proposes
has to do with the issue of license for
the sale of intoxicating liquors and
not with reference to the saloon alone.
And be sure that all the candidates of
the Republican party for legislative
office have all the same views on
this subject and have the same pledge
to make you.
Constitution Violated.
The constitution of the state OF In
diana provides by Article 10, Section !
that an accurate statement of the re-
ceipts and expenditures OF the public
money shall be published with the
laws of each regular session OF the
General assembly. This constitu-
tional provision, IL has seemed TO me,
was intended to enable the people of
this state to know how much money
they were paying for the expenses of
good government, and to what differ
ent departments the same was al
lowed. For many years prior to 1901,
there was an exhaustive statement OF
receipts and expenditures published
with the acts of the General Assem-
bly,.
This general statement enabled the
people of this state TO know how
much the governors office and the
various other offices of this state were
costing them. How much the different
institutions whether penal or charita-
Bile In their character. were costing
: them. How much was being paid ont
: in the way of education, and how
: much in the way of interest. What
the Indebtedness of the state was.
Compliance with the constitutional re-
quirement was made and the average
) man by picking up the acts OF the
5 General Assembly could know some
: thing about the financial condition OF
! his state. In 1901, there was adopted
: an abbreviated policy attempting to
comply substantially with this consti-
, tutional requirement without giving
2 the people of the state any information
by such compliance. The acts OF 1901.
t 1903 and 1907 contain this abbreviated
e statement. So far as its value is con-
: cerned. It complies strictly with the
: old story so often told about the re-
t port of the township trustee TO the
| board of county commissioners. He
5 disclosed that the money was all paid
/ in and that the money was all paid out.
) II shows how much was paid out Of
/ the general fund, benevolent institu-
l ton fund, and certain other funds, but
t it does not give the people of this
l state any idea as TO the actual expen-
{ ses OF the different instrumentalities
OF government.
Prior to 1901, it was possible for the
average man to pick up the acts Of the
. legislature and ascertain how much 10