The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-06-03
OF THE STATE SOUNDED
(Continued From Page Three.)

clean enough for your children to cut
their infant teeth upon them. And II
instead of coming out into the world
as an individual, you seek a corporate
creation at the hands of the state, the
democratic party does believe that it
has some right, having created you, to
control you. The platform Of our party
not having spoken definitely upon the
state railroad law, | may be permitted
to use it as an illustration of what |
think democratic attitude is. At
least it voices my own view with ref
erence to the condition of railroads.
None of us can disguise the fact that
the building Of vast network OF rail-
roads throughout our state has been
of inestimable value 10 its citizens.
They have helped to mark our prog
ress and Importance in the world of
affairs. He is not a good citizen who
wants to iniure the men who built
these roads.
Therefore, it has seemed to me that
the railroads of this state We're en-
titled to representation upon the State
who risk their lives and expose them
selves to all the inclemencies of the
weather that you may ride in speed
and comfort to and from various
points, are likewise entitled to com
pensatiOn and not a mere living, to
enough wages to enable them to put
by for a rainy day; these men are al
so entitled to representation upon the
State Railway commissions; and we,
the private citizens of the state, who
must pay for the comfort, COnven-
fence, luxury and safety that we en-
JOY, ought to pay in the way of trans
portatiOn rates and in the way of pas
senger fare, sufficient sum to not
only amply compensate the railroad
man, but to give the man who builds
the road a liberal return upon his
money investment. This is democrat
tic doctrine. Equality before the law,
equal privileges for all and special
privileges for none.
| may be permitted to return for just
a moment to voice my objections to
the present idea of government. 1
am not quarreling with most of the
things which the president of the Unit
ed States is endeavOring to obtain at
the hands of congress and what | say
with reference to the president, may
be applied with equal frankness, to
the present governor of this state. My
protest comes from a failure to I'M
derstand, or if understanding, a fail
ure to carry out the theory of our
government.
From my standpoint, the executive
has no right to force his opinions up
on the Legislative body. Many things
ought to be done, but the people must
understand that good government is
only to be obtained in this country of
ours by a careful watch of the people
of all their officeholders. They must
know, not after election, but before
election and at election time. that the
sending of a fool to the legislature
will result in foolish legislation; of a
knave in knavish legislation; and of a
special legislation, and they must I'M
derstand that if they obtain legisla-
ton of this kind it is their fault and
not the fault of the executive.
On many matters of reform in most
in fact, the attitude of the president
meets with my approval. If congress
must do what he says, and the courts
must decide as he declares, then let
us regularly change our form of gov
eminent and have a monarchy, and
embody in the president of the United
States, not only executive but judicial
and Legislative functions. You may
| laugh at me and say that so long as
We obtain what we want, and that
which is right, it is immaterial how
we obtain it, but if you will apply that
principle to the affairs of everyday life
der and riot in society.
We know no way in the community
in which we live to obtain our rights
except through the regularly consti
tuted legal tribunals. We know nc
way to change an evil except by an
appeal to the legislature, and if these
! things will not work in our individual
communities be sure they VIII not
work in our state and national life
A precedent is the most dangerous
thing that can be established in civil
government. A precedent, with the
president or the governor usurping al
! the functions of government, assumed
! by a good man and used Tor a goOC
| purpose, may speedily be assumed by
a bad man for a bad purpose. l be:
you, my fellow citizens, to keep for
ever in mind the distinctions between
the different branches of our govern
ment and maintain them with fidelity
until they shall be regularly changed
by amendments to our written consti
buttons; to strictly adhere to the writ
ten letter of the law if working pres
ent hardship, will result in future
good.
The democratic party, however, is
not in accord with the president o.
the United States in seeking TO siren
CITIZEN the powers of the genral govern
ment. 1t looks with suspicion on the
taking away from the people of theil
right of local government. l new
er made but one speech upon the sub
ject of imperialism. and l promised
| my 10