South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-21

are the patches put on oy repuo-
lican administration.
II they tell US that the law is bad
in spots and should be amended by
its friends. our answer is that the
vision OF it's friends was too defec-
tive 10 discover any faults until they
were pointed out by US. And II an
operation Is necessary the taxpayers
Will have more confidence in the
surgeons that discovered the tumors
than In the quack who stoutly in
sisted that the flesh was sound.
Now that public Indignation has
reached white heat. the republican
politicians have discovered some de-
fects in this greatest measure in
half a century" When II was passed
they proclaim IL. Landed ir and
gloried I'm IT, Then they began to
hedge. In reading their speeches now
Il IL impossible 10 determine which
way they are headed.
They wire In. and wire out
And leave the people in a doubt.
Whether the snake that makes
the track
Is going south, or coming back.
The Democratic Mission
The democratic party challenges
this insolent attack upon local self
government in Indiana. The right OF
the most humble community In the
state shall not be set aside
by the arbitrary will OF any
three men, dancing TO the music OF
any one man In the state. If the
little town In Wells county wants
school house. needs a school house:
and Is willing To pay for the school
house, no autocrats shall he permit
ted 10 longer drive them back into
the barn. II the people OF Fort
Wayne want TO spend their money
for food prevention. they don't pro-
pose 10 ask permission OF three hired
men in indianapolis TO protect their
vital interest.
Speaking in this hall in the midst
OF the war, while the American boys
were lighting for the principle of
democracy. the reactionary cynic I'm
the state house had the impudence 10
declare that we have no democracy
in America. All. how true II Is that
during the last four years OF repu-
lican tinkering we have not had de-
mOCracy in Indiana. We have had
an Oligarchy OF reduction plant trad
ers. convict labor coal operators. in
quisitorial tax collectors and ward
politicians. operating through a SUI
preme boss blessed with a rhinocer-
C1s-like imperyiOusness To the ridi-
Guile and denunciation of "a disguised
people.
And we propose as our mission In
1920. with the aid OF men and wom-
en- OF all party Affiliations. 90 restore
10 the people OF the smallest taxing
units. the rights OF which they have
a fNIf
ernor. with the aid OF a Slavish re-
publican Legislature and a subser
Went republican machine.
No democracy in Indiana? All. Mr..
Goodrich. the love OF democracy and
local self government which abides in
the breasts of the people OF this
state will bury Goodrichism in a
grave so deep that the hand OF
resurrection viii never drag IL forth.
Debasing the Road Law.
Like everything else that has been
touched 10y the sinister influence OF
the republican administration. even
the state highway commission, OF
which the people of Indiana hoped
for much, has been prostituted TO
political and personal ends. The ad-
ministration OF the law has been one
OF inefficiency and utter contempt
have been built or planned TO meet
the general purposes OF commerce.
Instead of proceeding according to
the contemplation OF the law these
road viceroys have employed their
power to salve a political sore in one
place and serve a political friend In
another For that, they have built po-
litical roads "a they might have built
political fences. with here a patch
and there a patch. until the road
map marked I'm red, instead of pic
turing Indiana with a countenance
with lines OF thought. merely gives
il the appearance OF a pimpled face.
They have let contracts for mill
lions OF dollars worth OF roads of
a type never before built in Indiana
but we let that pass. They have
awarded contracts for more than
100. 900 miles Of paving at approx
mately more than $1,000 more on
tho mile than Marion county was
paying for the same road at the same
time-but We will admit that good
will is worth something to someone.
They traded off the government
trucks for pleasure cars for the dig
nitaries OF tho commission-but
these are tho royal family OF In
diana
The most impressive thing these
men have done has been TO make a
$4,000 map and build an $4,000
garage and display the possibilities
OF the eccentric when political ma
chine, with pleasure cars and pay
rolls is entrusted with the improve
ment OF the highways OF the state.
We make no objection 10 the law.
but we indict the prostitution OF the
law TO the purposes of party politics;
we indict the inefficiency and the
rank Partially of its operation; and
We voice the general demand that
the politicians shall keep their hands
out OF the pockets OF the people and
off the highways OF the state and
give the law itself n chance.
NiCtimizcd Benevolent Institutions.
From the moment OF his corona
ton our Hoosier Caesar has been n
constant menace TO the benevolent
institutions of the state The repub-
lican party has prOstituted its vital
interest 10 party purposes in its par
simonious refusal to appropriate
enough money for their support This
has been done with the view TO re-
dUcing the cost and making a finan-
cial showing for campaign purposes.
The result is that improvements and
repairs, imperatively required, have
been postponed. Instead OF keeping
step 20 the onward march of the
humanitarian instinct OF the age,
these institutions have been COM