The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-09-24
GOVERNORS MESSAGE
TO THE LEGISLATURE


Two of the most important subjects
considered by Governor lIanly in his
message to the Indiana Legislature,
convened in special session, were those
dealing with the Night Riders and
county Local option. The Governor
opened his message with an explana-
ton Of the entanglements caused by
he appropriation law and closed by
advocating county local option as
against township option, which he says
he brewers want. Concerning the
Night Riders. the Governor says:
In the early spring numerous raids were
made in the part of the State bordering
upon the Ohio River by so-callec Might
Riders upon the property of persons engaged
in the growing of tobacco, resulting in the
destruction of a number of tobacco beds
where young plants were being fgrown
preparatory to transplanting in the fields.
Many threatening letters were written warn
ing the growers not to plant a tobacco crop
for this year, and threatening personal vio-
lence and the destruction of property If the
crop were planted. / have done what
could under the limited authority conferred
upon the Governor by law and with the
meager funds in my hands TO apprehend
these persons and protect the persons and
property OF citizens in that section of the
State. In a few weeks the tobacco crop Will
be cut and housed In sheds and barns.
Many threatening letters again being
received by the tobacco growers, warning
them not to cut their crops at peril of the
destruction of crops and barns by IRE. For
q year past one-third of the neighboring
State of Kentucky has been and now is, Il.
a state of anarchy neither life nor property
is secure. Property has been destroyed and
number of persons murdered. Depreda-
tions have been committed in Ohio necessi-
tatlng special legislation and the comforting
Of special authority upon officers in that
State TO preserve the property and lives OF
her citizens.
The protection of property and its peace
full enjoyment, and the preservation of the
lives of its people, are among the primal
reasons for the maintenance of any govern
ment. / cannot consent that the govern
ment of this Commonwealth shall fail In
this behalf. Under the present law / have
neither authority nor money with which to
prevent liz.
| therefore recommend the enactment OF
a statute for the protection of tobacco grow
ers, making the destruction of, or injury
TO. tobacco either in the field or after the
same shall be severed from the soil, a Grim
inal ofense, and fixing a severe penalty
therefor. i also recommend legislation au
thoriZing and directing the Governor to ap-
point such number of persons as he may
deem necessary, to act as secret service Off
GERS, TO detect or apprehend any person OF
persons engaged In the malicious destruc-
ton of tobacco plants or other property OF
persons engaged in the growing, curing and
marketing of tobacco giving to such officers
the power of a sheriff o. other police office.
TO arrest and detain until a legal warrant can
be obtained, any person or persons found
violating any of the laws Of this State en-
acted to prevent the destruction or injury
of tobacco. and giving to the Governor au'
thority TO fix the compensation of such Off
GERS, in addition to their actual and neces
sary expenses. and the making of an ap-
preparation of $4,000 for the payment and
compensation of such officers and their nee
essary expenses.
The enactment of such legislation will OF
itself have a lettering effect upon those
engaged in the unlawful practices to which
/ have adverted. and will enable the execu
tive to meet with greater efficiency the con
ditions that are likely TO arise.
County Local Option.
On the subject of Local Option Governor
Hanly says:
The welfare of the State. viewed from
either a moral or an economical standpoint
requires the enactment of a law giving "a
the qualified voters of the respective counties
of the State the right to vote upon the
question of the exclusion of the liquor traf
tic from any such county. In my Judgment
il is both expedent and right that this
legislation be enacted now.
The traffic in intoxicating liquors is
owned and controlled to-day by a few men
1t Is closely and compactly organized, both
for defense and aggression. Its conduct
has become such as TO challenge the
thoughtful consideration of the people OF
every State in the Union. in this Common
wealth this Is especially true.
The independent retail dealer. owner OF
his place of business and responsible 10 the
community where he does business and IN
which he lives. is fast becoming memory
He has almost ceased to be-. More than
30 per cent of the places where liquors are
sold at retail, TO be drunk oil the premises
where sold. are owned controlled by
brewery corporations. whose directors and
officers live out of the vicinity where the
business is carried on and who have nc
communities Many of them live in palatial
residences in fashionable quarters in the
larger cities of the State. far removed from
the scenes of the barrooms they maintain.
These men. acting through the legal ic
tion called a corporation. buy or rent the
buildings where the business is conducted
They own the fixtures They furnish the
liquors. They pay the license fee. Where
taxes are paid. they pay them The law
inhibits the issuing of license to a cor
pOration. To. evade this. license is taken
in the name of some irresponsible person
who owns no property and has no concern
and no mission except TO sell intoxicants to
anybody. at any hour. on any day, in order
daily measure OF profit. The brewery cor
poration. the brewer himself, or some paid
agent. executes the bond required of the
licensee. and he Is given to understand that
he must conduct the place turned over e
him at profit 10 his master. and that he
may evade the law without substantial risk
IL he Is prosecuted. he Is defended. IL he
Is fined. his fine is paid. His, place Is a
rendezvous for the idle, the vicious and the
criminal hotbed for the breeding of vice
and crime In time of civic excitement OF
social disorder, arson and murder issue
from il like beasts from a lair. This Il
the experience and this the testimony OF
every city that has become the victim OF
the mob or whose laws have been defied by
riot.
Those in control OF these places are con
cerned about nothing but profits and in
creased revenue. To obtain these they null
tiply saloons. plant them in residential dis
where saloons otherwise would not go.
The aggression and the Intolerance of the
traffic, coupled with its utter disregard OF
law, led the Sixty-fourth General Assembly
to enact a law giving to the majority OF
the legal voters of any township or city
ward the power. by remonstrance, filed with
the Board of County Commissioners, TO ex
clude for period of two years.
Under the provisions of this law this
traffic has been excluded. in three and one
half years, from $50 of the 1016 townships
in the State. from many city wards. from
a number of Cities. and from twenty five
entire counties. More than 100000 people
now live in territory where there Is no Ii
censed saloon. But this territory Is con