South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-01


upon the real thing, If any is 10 be
found. that might be meat for crit
icism, and quite deserving. We refer
70 the failure OF the democrats in
both houses TO heed the advise OF
Gov. Ralston. in his message. not TO
allow republican raillery agains. al
legged democratic extravaganza" to
Brighten away their good Judgment in
the matter of making needed appro-
priations for the support of state in
stitutions. The inane blattancy Of re-
publican orators. and Of the repubh-
can press, during the fall campaign,
was so furious. mainly i'm misrepre-
sentatiOn, and only slightly less with
caIumny. that the democrats seem TO
have well-nigh. not only have been
carried off their feet. but to have
barely escaped losing their heads
Economy became such an active slo-
gan, not only in the conduct of the
legislature, but as we'll in the enact
ment OF the state budget. that it only
narrowly missed being what might be
termed parsimony.
-
parsimony may eventually mean. over
at the county jail-a half dozen in
sane people there. retained because
state finances have not admitted of
any provision being made for them at
LOngclif or elsewhere. This cOndi-
ton prevails Notwithstanding the APP
preparations made by what the repUb-
licans unwarrantedly chose to term
the "extravagant' assembly of 1913.
and a charge 10 which the democrats
appze- TO have listened so attentively
that they dared not correct the blum
der by making a sufficient appropria-
ton IL 1915 The situation is, indeed.
q serious one. The political party that
denOunces a proper state care for its
unfortunates. and the party as well
that lacks the humanity and economic
acumen TO disregard such denuncia-
ton. and in spite OF it, to go ahead and
provide for such care-both of them
are deserving of the severest criticism
from humanitarian people, and let the
parsfmonious taxpayer who can think
of the functions of government only
in the language of the coins that it
takes from his pocket, be hanged
We have no particular knowledge
of other state institutions in a similar
s,light Perhaps all of them will be
able TO worry along on what the state
has allowed them. some, maybe. with
less worry than others, but more lib
eraI financing of the institutions for
the care of the insane, appears to be
"a decided necessity. And the two
leading political parties in the state
are responsible for that necessity; the
republicans by making campaign thun-
der out of an "extravagance" that
didn't exist. and the democrats
through being frightened by that
thunder, into evading an evident duty.
The republican lash needed have no
terrors for the democrats during the
recent legislature. had they but set
their faces to the front instead OF
looking backward. Rep. Hagerty was
not altogether amiss in his socalled
stamp act" speech. when he warned
the house against running amuck
with "sanctimonious parsimOuy."
There was nothing about the previous
assembly TO justify the more recent
one in being afraid to breathe. Re-
publican noise and public demands
are possible of wide difference. and
this. democracy should have more
readily discerned
This has been a fault of the demo-
cratic party, during the past few
months. not only in Indiana but in
national affairs as we'll Instead of
close attention 70 the policy of the
administration. and making a study
OF the conditions that are being work
I'd out. the query al along the line
seems to be. what are the republi-
cans saying about it2" Ii requires
no reading. or even a passing thought
10 answer the question. Just con
clude that they are finding fault. and
that without merit. and there you
have it. The republican party is not
outlining any policies for democrats
70 follow. which. if followed. 60 not
lead TO peridy and dishonor. Democ-
racy TO continue its influence and
power. needs 20 be forward looking"
aggressive. and not afraid of its own
counsel The socalled economy pro-
gram of the recent assembly. quite rs
nearly parslm0ny program. is All
the evidence Of "a necessity for such
seIf-assertion that one needs We
repea II that the main fault OF the
recent assembly was its too evident
ei~orf 20 escape republican criticism.
TO frequently criticism that was with
ont Justification or excuse. Adhering
10 republican Misrepresentation. pre-
varicauon. OF advise. is bound 20
throw any one. cor any party open 10
rebuke. and we feel at liberty 40 take
democracy 70 task exactly on that
score.
NEWSPAPER ERRORS.
The capacity for detecting errors i'm