South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-10-08
JUST ANSWERING A QUERY.

JUST ANSWERING A QUERY.
This from an Interested democrat
who is seeking truth, las he sub
seribes himself anonymously:
Lets have an article on demo-
cratic economy" - and ne accom-
panies the request by copy OF the
local progressive songster. blue-pen-
ciled To call attention to certain al
legged democratic state extravagances-
our interested democrat" friend
is wise. In seeking truth" he hitting
~ discounts the blue-penciled article
as we'll as the source.
However. had he but followed the
page during the last fortnight, dealing
with state and national affairs. at least
an outline in answer TO his query
would already be with him.
1t is easy enough for a critic to
find fault
1t too seems 10 be in the nature of
mankind TO read faultinding in pref
erence to statements of cold-blooded
truth.
If our Interested democrat" will
bat follow these articles as they APP
pear. they will be kept pretty well
armed against progressive and repub-
lican Onslaughts without having TO
call for special dispensations.
not an item in the criticism of the
progressive leaflet but has already
been answered. though. perhaps, we
ought not be stingy.
The finger that points to the recent
state loan OF 100000. and asks for
the why's and wherefores, can be ex-
plaiEed by the fact that the Indiana
democracy inherited a state Of bank
ruptcy from the republican party in
1908, involving obligations which it
has not as yet been able 10 pay off in
full. and which though reduced an
nually are still of sufficient magnitude
10 keep the state in the hole for a
time between tax collections.
When you consider that the repub-
leans when they went out Of Office
had drawn on the future taxes of the
state over S15.OOO,OOO no enquirer
need be surprised that occasional
loans should still be necessary 10 tide
the commonwealth over rough places
Would the enquirer prefer an increase
of taxes TO wipe out this $4,000, 600
in one fell swoop? Progressives
should remember that while this re-
publican extravaganza was going on,
they. or the most OF them. were still
republicans. and that not only in
1908. but again in 1910, and but for a
narrow escape in 1912. they marched
in the ranks OF the republican party
and condoned the cause Of the cOndi-
tions Of which they now complain.
And the remainder of the article is
no less shallow. Anything 10 find
fault with a public expenditure, not
withstanding that progressives can go
back as 10 everyone OF them TO their
own bygone days. when they were re-
pablicaus and making the eagle
scream. and find these expenditures
exceeded by those OF the party which
they held as infalHble then as they
hold the progressive party now.
An increase of % per cent. A per
cent. 40 per cent, 30 per cent. or even
as high as Sol per cent charged in
one instance. these against the demo-
Gratis. is not so bad. regret II much as
YOU may. when YOU consider that the
republican state expenses in 1907 over
the democratic expenses in 1S93-the
last year that the democrats were in
control until 1911-were increased
245 per cent in the governors office:
153 per cent In the secretary OF
state office. PAS per cent in the audi
tors o1ice. 249 per cent in the office
OF state librarian. pa per GER ,r the
board Of state charities. 514 per cent
for the state board Of health. and :. $50
per cent in the Office OF the commis-
sioner OF fisheries
Experience. indeed. dictates that
an interested democrat who is seek
ing truth" always does well 10 inves-
tigate the critics OF democracy as well
as their criticisms-and whether that
critic be republican or ex-republican.
as the campaign lines up IN Indiana
this year. makes but little difference.
People who live I'm glass house"
should pull down the blinds.