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


in state and nation with the ability to
do whatever 1t pleases, with tlaunt-
ing declaration in the face OF the peo-
pie that the Republican party and
prosperity go hand in hand, isn't it
marvellous that we should now be eX-
pecting the arrival of a cyclone? |
suppose the answer to that will be-
the danger of the election of a Demo
cratic governor in Indiana. Just as
plain lawyer who has had some knOWl-
edge of bank failures in Indiana. | may
be permitted to say that while the en-
tire problem will not be solved, still
you will have gone far toward it, when
you make the depositor absolutely
safe in his deposit.
The Democratic party is in favor in
state and nation. of a bank tax to Sc
cure the depostor so that in the event
of insolvency, the state or nation will
promptly pay depositors. When this
is done, many a bureau drawer will be
robbed of its treasures, many a blue
stocking will be emptied of its con-
tents and the deposits of banks will
thereby be increased.
Rule by the People.
Slowly but inevitably, if not in this
campaign, in some future campaign,
the so per cent. who believe that the
people ought to rule are going to see
to it that the people do rule. They
are going to prevent the interests from
manipulating affairs of the state and
nation. They are going to prevent
combinations Of candidates, nominal
tons for special purposes, and nomi-
nations by special interests. They are
going to get into their hands the ma
chinery by which they can not only
make, but also elect their own Off
GERS. To this end, the Democratic
party of Indiana declares itself in fav-
or of the passage of a'primary law for
the election of all delegates to all con-
ventions.
The Republican platform, however,
is not satisfactory to the average man.
1t simply declares for a practical pri-
mary law. What this means is subject
to Interpretation by the man who in
terprets it. He may declare that it is
a law that works well, or a law that
works for his party, or a law that
works for his interest or a law that
works in way he wants it to; it has
not declared itself in favor of pri-
mary election law that will give the
people an opportunity to select all of
its candidates, both state and local,
and all delegates to all conventions.
The Republican platform also de-
clares in favor Of the revision of the
corporation laws of this state. Unless
| am much mistaken, 1t appointed a
commission some years since, to re-
wise the corporation laws in this state.
/ That commission made a report TO the
legislature of this state of codifica-
ton of the corporation laws, which
made those Of New Jersey look like 80
cents. Had it not been for the SPLEEN
did services of a Republican lawyer,
the Hon Addison C. Harris of Indian
apolis and the splendid services of the
State Bar association of the state of
Indiana, by this time, at the request,
by the consent, and with the approval,
of a Republican administration, Ind
lana would have been the nesting
place of every trust that could not
| build its nest so satisfactorily in any
other state. Everybody knows that
the corporation laws of this state are
not what they ought to be. They are
not so bad in themselves as they are
| in the ability of the courts TO deter
mine under what particular law a
corporation is organized. A general
/ revision may be advisable but let us
not have the corporation laws revised
! like the tariff. by its friends. If the
| friends of a system are the proper
ones to revise its laws. why not let
| the liquor interests revise the license
| laws of this state?
The Liquor Question.
| now come to the consideration of
| the liquor question which is engross.
| ing the attention of many communi-
| ties in the state Of Indiana. I have
such an abiding faith in the desire of
| the people Of my native state TO main
tain the present system Of government
until the same shall be changed law
fully, that l make bold to ask their
candid consideration of what | shall
say. unbiased by any personal views
which they may entertain upon the
!
| but it is possible.
Either ours is a government design
ed to exercise its powers under the
limitations Of a written constitution,
or it is not, From the academic stand.
point, no one will dispute that it is
such government. But fear that in
/ the mad rush OF the individual citizen
/ to obtain that which he desires, he has
/ lost sight of this fact and has made
up his mind TO obtain what he wants,
constitution or no constitution.
While Thomas Jefferson was the au-
/ thor of the bill for religious freedom
/ in Virginia and thus brought about
the disassociation of church and state
in America, presume that there are
not yet many Americans who are de-
sirous OF reuniting church and state
I 1t may be that our distaste of this idea
arises. to a certain extent, from the
/ fact that we are not quite sure that
our own particular branch could be
made the state religion. For more