The Detroit times., 1909-05-11
BY Marlsn E. Pew.
From a stan Correspondent


am glad l. had chance TO have a
long talk with Thos. X. Marshall. the
new governor OF Indiana.
lie Is the only one of his kind. So
fas as my observation goes.
he has been in Office four months
Before that he Was poor and uh'
known country lawyer.
His nomination ON the Democratic
ticket came AS u surprise anu ms
election on the Demo cratic ticket
when Taft carried the state was still
greater surprise.
Marshall was picked up rs com
promise" candidate. The politicians
were lighting for political pie and they
named him not SO much u be elected
as To avoid factional quarrel; for
real politics In Indiana rs elsewhere
is partisan" only SO far AS the voter
Is commemorative pie" Is largely a
bipartisan AFFAIR. The machines didn
know what they were getting when
Marshall was elected; la tact they
cont know yet.
Marshall has done nothing in these
four months To shake the state or
interfere with the even How of the
Wabash. lie has done lcthlng con
spicuously great To be praised for. aud
no known wrong for which 10 be con-
| demned.
His ideas are AS homely as his face.
Somehow | doubt II he will ever
startIe the state with any great limo
walton. But | feel that he will go OUT
OF office honored by a clean and dig
rihed administration. And unless
am greatly deceived. no one will stea!
J the state house twixt now and then
\ .s..1 At n. lao
pulled a cigar and fell easily into Z
debate of social and political condl-
lions. Il am not a politician" he said
Il know nothing about that game. !
was the most surprised man in the
state when | was nominated and elect
ed In the campaign | told the people
that | wasn't sure that would make
! good as governor. I'm not sure that
am making good. But | am giving
the best have 10 give.
While the political game is n mys-
terry TO me. | have some ideas con-
corning craftsmanship. rs my idea
! that the state and nation will be bet
ter served by more craftsmanship ant.
less politics. l am Democrat, but
am working for all parties. all classes
al races. all denominations. To be
elected cost me less than $500.
| borrowed some OF the money and
haven't paid IL ali back yet. but Will
have the satisfaction OF being In 40
mans deot. except this holder OF my
note Before election ! made no man
q promise. | gained no vote from brio'
cry of that or any sort. ! accepted the
| bounty of 10 interest, | hope l de
ceiyed NO one. and. my friend, l have
| nothing on my mind which bothers
me. or hinders me from free exer'
| else of my duty 10 Indiana, Whatever
else | may do or may fail to do, | VIII
at least be honest according 10 M
Tight. So, you see. IL l make poor
governor II will only be- because
Was not dig enough for the job.
My snort term in Office has been
intensely interesting | have learned
how low practical politics are. They
concern the spells OF Office. They are
utterly selfish.
AS Democrats are Of my creed
prefer 10 appoint Democrats 10 ONCE
hut I will appoint men OF any other
party II they will give better service
Politicians want me TO appoint Dem
ocrat as warden OF the s.ote REFORM
atory The present incumbent Is a
Republican and believe the most
capable oficeholder in tho state: ne
will not be turned out by me.
we have too many boards In tnia
state. The state Is ove-run with
officeholcers. Taxpayers, especially 10
smaller cities. are burdened with inc
big salaries Of useless officers;
do you know. | believe that the
American people are government SICK
Nowadays a man doesn't need 10 have
tHf
h. law. Our legislatures have given
ms so many laws that every citizen oil
the state from the governor 10 the
last admitted alien. may unconscious
~ break a law every Jay, never
know IL and do no harm We are
Ilawed from cradle TO grave. ! have
no objection to political law, but III
recent years the Puritanism OF ancient
days has broken out upon us and We
have legislated upon economic or
moral questions until a man has no
legal right to enjoy his individuality
or even experience personal liberty
there Is a special statute for his every
act. and his life. politically. economi
cally and morally, Is prescribed Io'
him
II cannot admit that civilization u
LOT progressing, and | believe that as
Il progresses written rules for con
duct should decrease In NUMBER we
should stop manifolding our laws.
Much OF the law intended TO gov
ern individuals Is based upon false
theory. IL operates uEeqraliy and
even makes criminals OF men who
have done no moral wrong. some
times. too, 1t protects men who are
guilty. nv.
How absurd our system Is. We
point To this man as a success and q
good citizen. He was corn TO fof'
tune material things nave come "a
him without his effort. lie has mad
10 make no struggle, and 1t Is easy
for him 10 be good citizen. Here
comes man who is pointed out as
a failure. He was born TO poverty
and had no chance to gain education
? Against obstacles he has fought 10:
q living and has made no more. he
has never been able to own his own
home. Illness al home. enforced ldle
ness and the Other usual drags have
held him back. His children are com
PEELED to leave school and enter factory
or mine. His wife has little pleasure
Maybe. in the desperation or discour
tngement this man has gone wrong
And so he has failed. We Judge these
two men BY the same law OF accom-
Iplisnment. We do not qualify our
condemnation OF the failure We
give him no credit for his effort. We
do not qualify our praise " the effort
iless success of the successful
a "Ne point TO that man with pride