Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-31
HARDWOOD MATERIAL FOR NEW
INDIANA DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
SMggested ~ Janaes K. Risk

Of Ohio, said the initial and referendum
was sound and advised It's adoption.
President Wilson has given open OK.
preston in favor OF the initiative and
the referendum, and the one man, who
is today regarded as the greatest cham
pion of progressive thought and greas
moral reforms has advocated the initia
tive and the referendum for a quarter
of century. / refer to the great COM
moner, Hon. W. J. Bryan.
Our government is indebted to Mr.
Bryan for many splendid laws that have
been written on the federal statute books
in the last seven years, and the demo-
cratic party is certainly indebted to Mr..
Bryan for the service that he rendered
to the party in nominating Mr.. Wilson,
in 1912, and the service again rendered
IN 1915 that reelected Mr.. Wilson.
There ara other needed reforms that
can come only through constitutional re-
vision and a constitutional convention is
the only way in which all of these i'm
portant subjects can be disposed of with
out unnecessary delay.
The democratic platform should de-
clare for a budget system, The demo-
Gratis of Indiana, in selecting their dele
gates to the state convention in Indiana,
k1OuRuJ
men who viii give expression to both
moral and progressive thought, and who
will insist ON writing a real democratic
platform without interference by politi-
cal bosses. There must be no attempt in
future to | andpick the members OF the
resolutions committee in the democratic
state convention.
The women OF Indiana and of the ma
tlon have battled long and consistently
for their Just rights as American citizens,
and within the next ninety days they
will be dona tide voters. They will fol-
low the dictates of their conscience and
am sure they will inquire of every
candidate who aspires to public office
what his record has been, not only on
the suffrage question, but on the TEN
perance question, and II he can not give
clean report that he has been on the
right side of these great moral reforms
he Will not be table to obtain the votes
of the good women Of Indiana.
If the democratic party does not come
clean on all Of these great questions
and declare openly in favor OF them the
democratic party win not be able to
secure its share OF the women's votes.
The democratic voters OF Indiana
should demand from all candidates, who
fle petitions in the coming primary,
that the voters think should go into
the democratic platform and the candi-
date who is not willing, before the pri-
mary, sto state clearly what his program
is, Is not entitled to any consideration
by the democratic voters Of the state.
The candidate who takes the position
that he will not give expression on i'm
portant subjects prior to the primary,
but says he Will run on any platform
that is made by the convention, Is a
coward and unworthy Of consideration
by the voters of any political party.
Honest, efficient and practical bust
ness management as applied by all hon
est business men in the management OF
their business affairs, should be applied
in the management of government
Men and women, who accept positions
In government, must render an honest
and efficient service and must be dil-
igent ia safeguarding interests OF govern
ment. When men are willing to give
their lives in defense Of their govern
ment, certainly public servants should be
equally anxious to serve their govern
ment honestly.
The Indiana democrat who comes for
ward as a candidate for governor with
a real program, and who will fight for
personal ambition-the man who Is more
interested in his country's welfare than
In any office, and who has courage to
express his convictions and accept re-
sponsibllity for them, will have done his
duty and viii have rendered a service to
his party, and a larger service to the
people of the state Of Indiana, regardless
of the results OF his candidacy.
JAMES X. RISK.