South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-03-19
RALSTON REVIEWS
PARTY'S PROGRESS
IN KEYNOTE TALK
Governor Points to Public UtiI-
ity, Vocational Guidance and
Inheritance Tax Laws As
Steps in Advance.

lNDIANAPOLlS, Marcn ly.-GON-
ernor Samuel Ralston delivered the
keynote speech of the democratic con-
vention Thursday morning.
Beginning with the declaration that
the value of a political party, like
that of a man, depends upon its char
acter and record, Governor RalstOn
said the democratic party recognized
its obligation to the people, declared
that it had not failed to give good
service, or to give an account of its
stewardship to them. He congratula-
ted the democrats Of Indiana upon the
deserved favor with which their par
ty is received in the state and nation.
He declared that the people of the
country recognized their obligation To
the democratic party for giving them
that scholar and statesman, Wood
row Wilson, for president: referred to
his unprecedented record in remedial
and constructive statesmanship the
past year, to his high character, his
sincerity, his thoroughness, his pa
tience and his practical wisdom;
praised the members of the cabinet
and referred to the fact that many
reforms have been achieved for which
the democratic party has fought long
under that maSterful man." William
Jennings Bryan. He also referred to
the highly honorable" part the Indi-
ana delegation in congress had taken
in the legislative work of the past
year.
The Tariff Act.
The governor then took up the tariff
and income tax, the currency and
proposed antitrust legislation. He
said 1t is no longer necessary to argue
the now admitted fact that the tariff
&c 70 20 70
ferred TO the republican promises of
tariff reduction and their deception
OF the people" by passing the Payne
Aldrich law with its monopoliStic
abuses. which led to that party's ig-
nOminious defeat in 1912" contrasted
with this the honesty Of the demo-
cratic course" after their success, by
the passage of the Underwood tariff
law. which, he said, aside from the
liquor and tobacco schedule, fixes rates
lower than the wise Walker tariff law
of 1916, and defended the income tax
feature by the statement that if the
citizen had not an income above the
costs of the comforts of life, he does
not have to pay it, and If he has such
an income, it is not burdensome for
him to pay it. He concluded his tariff
discussion with the declaration that
If the republicans who are criticiSing
the Underwood law expected to get
back into power on a. high protective
platform they would be working at
the job when Gabriel blows his horn"
Currency.
The governor referred to the often
repeated promises made by republi-
, cans to reform the money and bank
ing system, until the people became
weary of broken promises; how Pres
ident Wilson in nine months gave the
country as a Christmas gift the Glass
Owen surrency and banking law; and
how under that law confidence and
business already were reviving. be-
cause of the general feeling of safety
and assurance of an ample supply of
money for all demands of legitimate
business, and prophesied a prolonged
era of commercial prosperity for the
entire country.
Antitrust Legislation.
Referring to the proposed antitrust
legislation, and giving the president
credit for wisdom in bringing this sub
ject forward after the tariff and the
currency were out of the way, Cover
nor Ralston quoted Bryan's 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.
State Affairs.
Turning to state affairs, the COVER
nor invited close inspection of the
democratic record, both legislative
and administrative. Referring to the
overwhelming democratic majority in
the last legislature he declared that
the 6Sth general assembly gave the
state permanent and Increasingly ben
eficial legislation of such high charac-
ter that it has rarely if ever been
equalled in the history of the state"
Legislative Record.
The governor laid especial stress
upon the vocational education act and
the public service law as being two of
the most important laws passed in
obedience TO a popular demand for
progressive legislation. The latter law
will cost for its proper administration
500, 900 annually, but he declared
that we have one OF the best public
utility laws in the United States as
was admitted by expert opinion the
country over.
Governor Ralston then took up the
question of public education, quoting
the Indiana constitution TO prove the
friendship of the democratic party for
education, its recognition Of the i'm
portance of a general and free system
Of schools, both common and collie
giate, in a self governing country, and
calling attention TO a number OF ben
eficial laws, passed by the last legis-
lature, in the interest of the educa-
tional system of the state.
He next called attention 10 the fire
marshal law and the inheritance tax
law; the first he declared had already
proved its efficiency by its methods
OF fire prevention through education,
regulation. inspection and prosecution.
and condemnation OF fire-traps: and
the second would bring into the state
treasury about half a million dollars
annually. from property that can af-
ford TO bear the tax" The highway
law, the housing law. the loan shark
law. county tuberculosis act. penal
farm law. enlargement Of the legisla-
tive reference bureau were all COM
mended. He also called attention 10
number Of laws at the last session in
the interest OF labor-three in the in
forest OF railway employees and the
public. a boiler inspection law and an
improved mining law, a child labor
law, promoting attendance at public
schools and the creation OF a commits