Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-03-22
RISKS PLATFORM AND SOME
BULLSEYES HIT AND MISSED
An Editorial in The South BEND NsaUs- 7iuts-

While we are holding no brief for any
democratic candidate for the gubernato-
rial nomination in Indiana-McCulloch
IseDbarger, Niblack or Risk-we are
frankly impressed by letter by the lat
ter, james K. Risk of Lebanon and La
fayette, to Democratic State Chairman
Sallee, some parts of which we incline
to give our Endorsement even though we
may not be disposed to indorse the can
didacy of the author. Mr.. Risk is very
naturally In bad with lot of dem
ocrats in Indiana. In the fact of his
record, fraught with long years Of eff
fort to reform the democratic Organiza
ton, upon the coat-tail of which the
bulk of the party appears to hang, he
evidences great deal of nerve in enter
ing the race for governor at all. Even
though with the passing OF time much
for which he has stood has come to pass,
proving that he was in most respects
right, it is, indeed, expecting too much
of poor, weak human nature, to an
ticipate surrender Of those whom he has
fought, and is fighting still, or that they
will do anything to elvate him to the
highest Office in the states gift.
Rugged is the road of the pioneer
of new ways. Even the forests have
seemed to despise the first settlers. The
man who reaches out and pursues I'M
trodden courses must, as a rule, be con-
tent for his reward with the conscious
ness OF having done a good work-this,
and whatsoever may be vouchsafed TO
him when he gets beyond this vale of
tears. Still Mr.. Risk is suggesting. at
least, as we see it. exactly the course
the democratic party needs to pursue. and
some Of the principles that 1t needs to
adopt, II it ever hopes 10 become a vital
force in Indiana again-regardless of
whether its leader is Risk. Niblack. Isen-
barger, McCulloch or any one else.
Mr. Risk has advanced about the first
real platform with an appeal to it that
we have seen. He is not content with a
line of wholesale raIllery against the
Indiana tax law. just because 1t was
passed by a republican legislature, and
signed by a republican governor; per
haps, with a few amendments, throttling
the Ubiquitous tax commission, and
smoothing out some other kinks, the best
tax law Indiana has ever had. We have
no more use for the democratic denun-
citation of the new tax law, for the main
reason of such denunciation, than we
have for the majority in the United States
senate and its opposition to the league
of nations; opposition merely because
the league was brought about under a
democratic administration, and by Wood
row Wilson, Mr.. Risk has at least sug-
gested to state Chairman Sallee, some
other things for the democratic party to
think about besides taxes.
And among those suggestions. the main
one that appeals to us, and which we be-
lieve would make something OF an .ap-
peal TO the masses OF people. is the one
fpfa ha nAvryoe or
progressive states: reinstate the demo
cratic party in Indiana as the progress
sive movement that Woodrow Wilson, in
spite OF the party. made OF 1t in the
nation. Mr.. Risk puts It pretty we'll
when he says that the main reasons for
the lack OF democratic spirit in Indiana
is the lack OF alcoholic spirit. We have
too many democrats, and too many dem
ocratic leaders in Indiana, who have been
trained, and have learned to think. only
IN channels that run amber with beer
and bronze with booze
Naturally the president who signed
the District Of Columbia dry bill. ap-
proved the federal prohibition amend
ment and passed it on to the states. at
tached his signature 10 war prohibition
though vetoing the Volstead en-
forcement acts In bad with democrats
Of such caliber: likewise Bryan with his
grape juice, Daniels with his dry navy.
and Baker with his 'ave mile limit" but.
just as Mr.. Risk asserts. there are other
issues, good for an Intelligent democra-
cy. besides championing the peeyes OF
the sots. He wants n progressive CON
structive program for the democratic
party, rather than a reactIonary. destruc-
tive program. He Is not charging this
latter against his opponents. but he