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

along. lie declared that In asking
for a vindication for his administra-
ton ne was asking for a vindication
for the republican party OF Indiana.
Goodrichsm and republicanism In
Indiana Is one and the same thing.
and In discussing one We discuss the
other
Speaking at Vincennes. the COVER
nor said: We have no apologies 10
make. We have kept the faith. We
20 before the people with this record
and We expect vote OF confidence"
Now let US hold our nose and ex-
anime the record: The republican
party went into power with the
pledge TO reform the tax laws and II
has deformed them IN the most dis
credited measure over perpetrated
upon the people OF the state. II was
incubated in the brain OF Goodrich.
IL was christened by the republican
mem bers OF the legislature. IL was
proclaimed and lauded by the repub-
liCan press. IL was sanctioned by the
I republican committee IL was de-
Tended by republican politicians.
Conceived. perpetuated and defended
by the republican party. IL Is re-
publican concoctiOn. and the repub-
liCan party and it's candidates must
stand or fall upon Il before the peo-
pie at the polls.
Blow ut Local Self Govcrnmcnt.
We arraign this law. primarily. be-
cause 10 strikes "A deadly blow at the
principle Of local self government in
Indiana. The genesis Of patriotism
is the home. Love of country is born
at the hearth. The man who docs
not take an interest in the immedi-
ate community i'm which he lives and
Ia bors is poor material for the max
ing of a patriot. The splendid Sys-
tenn of American freedom has eX-
banded from the jealous guardian
ship of the race over the control OF
the purse and the power Of taxation.
And ! submit that nothing could be
more repugnant to real AmericaniSm
than a Bourbon OF RomanOff system
OF taxation which sends it's inquisi-
torial agents forth from some center
OF power 10 deprive communities of
their privileges. to take their money.
refuse them the use OF il for local
purposes, and cart It off To serve the
purposes of Capitalization at some
distant point.
America is a great country because
II is composed of great. prosperous
and proud communities. And when
you rob the smallest taxing unit of
the right to tax itself. ard to spend
it's own money for local improve
ments. you not only strike at that
little community. but at the combi-
nation of small communities called
the state.
Under this republican law one
man. acting through his underlings
upon the tax board. is granted the
power TO forbid local improvements,
no matter how imperatively needed,
in every county. every township.
every city and hamlet in the state
Of Indiana.
With all the arrogance of autoc-
racy. II declares that the local AS
SCISSORS. chosen by the voice Of the
people. shall become mere satraps
and inquisitOrial agents OF a central
power More than that-it provides
that their official tenure. under the
call OF the people, shall depend upon
the will or within OF three men I'm
the state house who are only amen
able To the supreme autocrat who
makes them.
Now note the arrogance OF autOc-
racy: the traditional authority OF
your local assessors must be struck
down on the theory that the men
elected by the people are inefficient
or dishonest. while the three men,
hand picked by an autocrslt I'm the
state house. must be paragons of
civic virtue.
Eject on Public improvements.
This Romanoff system has made
possible the reduction OF the levies
which has disorganized and demon
allied local improvements in every
nook and corner OF the state. In the
case OF municipalities the desires OF
the people may be brushed aside
with impunity and contempt. Even
in case OF officials elected on a
pledge to make specified improve
ments. the satrapS OF autOcracy are
given the power TO force them TO
repudiate their pledge and 10 ig-
more the mandate OF the people.
A school house burns. and you
can't sell bonds to build a new one;
a flood threatens. and you can't sell
bonds to build a dyke; a bridge be-
comes a menace, and you can't sell
bonds 20 replace II; "a road becomes
impossible. and you can't sell bonds
to repair IL: the fire fighting facili-
ties OF your city become inadequate
and you can't sell bonds to strength
en- the apparatus. No, you can't build
a school house. a dyke or a bridge
you can't repair a road or buy fire
engine, without coming down 10 In
dianapolIs. hat IN hand. and humbly
petitioning utter strangers to your
community for the privilege OF
spending your own money for the
improvement or protection OF your
own home.
The American colonies went 20
war upon a preamble and challeng-
ed the power Of the mightieSt ma
ton on the globe because OF a sys-
TEN Of taxation that never attempted
any such tyranniCal interference with
the rights OF the people.
But not content with depriving the
people OF the right TO issue bonds %
meet a local necessity, the republican
state committee has the impudence
10 complain that these importuning
committees would do better 10 stay
at home and write. Don't YOU uu-
Cerstand. implies the republican com
mittee, that these tax experts at In
dianapolis. through some cOnjura-
ton. or the teasing OF the ouiJa
board. are better able TO judge than
you. what Is good and helpful for
your community? But l say 10 you,
that tiresome and humiliating though
the trip may be- as long as this re-
publican law Is upon the statutes 70
strangle self-government in Indiana.
there is only one way TO fight autoc-
racy here or anywhere. and that Is
10 GO in DerSon with a club and fight