The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-03-19

the currency were out of the way,
Gov. Ralston quoted Bryans declara-
ton that "a private monopoly is in
defensible and intolerable," as en-
dorsed by Wilson. He asserted that
the latter Is safe and sane in what
he proposes The governor closed his
discussion of the national issues as
follows:
But when due credit be given to
its specific record of constructive and
remedial legislation, it must be ad-
mitted after all, that the most inn
portant and distinctive feature of
Woodrow Wilson's administration is
the man himself-his rugged honesty,
his practical wisdom, his singleness
Of purpose, his exalted character, his
faith in humanity and his exempliti-
cation of that righteousness that ex-
alteth a nation, and bears blessing
to all mankind"
State Affairs.
Turning to state affairs, the gov
ernor invited close inspection of the
Democratic record, both legislative
and administrative. Referring to the
overwh Ginning Democratic majority in
the last legislature, he declared that
the sixty-eighth general Assembly
gave the state permanent and in
creasingly beneficial legislation of
such high character that it has rarely,
if ever, been equalled in the history
of the state"
The governor laid especial stress
upon the vocational education act and
the public service law as being two of
the most important laws past in obed-
lance to popular demand for pro-
gressive legislation. The latter law
will cost for it's proper administration
$1,000 annually, but he declared that
we have one of the best public util-
ity laws in the United States, as was
admitted by expert opinion the coun'
try over.
He next called attention to the fire
marshal law and the inheritance tax
laws; the first he declared had already
proved it's efficiency by its methods
of fire protection through education
regulation, inspection and prosecution
andcondemnation of fire traps; and
the second would bring into the state
treasury about half a million dollars
, annually from property that can az
ford to bear the tax" The highway
law, the housing law. the loan shark
farm law, enlargement Of the legis
lative reference bureau were all com
mended He also called attention tc
a number of laws in the interest OF
labor-three in the interest of rail
way employees and the public,
boiler inspection law and an improved
mining law, a child labor law, pro
noting attendance at public school
and the creation of commission tC
investigate the hours and labor con
ditions of women.
Finances.
Considerable time was consumed
by the governor in a history of state
finances, to a comparison Of the re
cord under Republican and Demo
cratic regimes, and to the differences
| in their manner of meeting extra
drafts upon the revenues of the state
He quoted many figures and facts
| to prove that the Republican policy
was timid hand-to-mouth policy
necessitating a chronic anticipation O
future revenues, the use of the sink
ing fund to maintain current expenses
and impaired credit and a bankrupt
treasury He then declared that the
Democrats showed good business
sense by recognizing the situation, by
borrowing money temporarily so thai
the sinking fund might be applied OF
the bonded debt, and by raising the
tax levy sufficient to meet the norma