The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-01-05

needs and of the temper OF the Nation.
The electoral success Of Mr.. Bonar
Laws appeal for a period of tran
guilty and inaction was purely for
tuitous. 1t is true that the tranquil.
izers were given a majority of eighty
in the House of Commons as the re-
suit of the general election in 1922,
but It was entirely due to the fact
that the Conservatives captured
ninety-four seats by means of a mi
nority vote. If the members had been
fairly distributed in proportion to
otes, the Conservative party would
have been in a minority of at least
eighty In the late house. At the poll
ing booths, the Conservative govern
ment and its policy were voted down
by over three million of the voters.
The nation emphatically did not ap-
prove the policy of lying down to rest
1t intended to give a clear verdict in
favor of progressive measures Of more
or less advanced character.
That verdict it reafflrmed at the last
election in more unmistakable terms.
Both Liberal and Labor programs con-
tanned a reform more thorough than
any embodied in the tomorous politi-
cal pronouncements of pre-war days.
That is in accordance with the spirit
of the times. In organization of in
dustry, in Improvement of machinery,
in fact in every department Of &C
tivity, the call is more than ever for
new ideas and new developments to
meet new conditions and new hopes
created or revealed by the war. Why
then should politics alone become a
stagnant pool, filed with the dead and
rotting leaves of past controversies?
People Want Action
The real desire of the nation is that
its government also should be brought
into the sweeping. quickening current.
In 1922. the people failed to make their
voice heard. They were defeated by
the crudities Of our electoral system
In 1928, they succeeded in making
known their will. There may be three
parties. but there is one purpose.
There is a mandate against the i'm
position of tariffs; there is a mandate
against the capital levy and against
naturalization. The nation is reso-
Iutely opposed to the overthrow Of the
fiscal system or of the system Of pri-
waite enterprise upon which its pros
perity is based.
But do not imagine from this that
the decision at the polls was a mega
tive one Let there be no mistake
The electors gave an overwhelming
mandate for thorough reform and re-
construction in every department Of
activity where the government can
Iegitimately interfere. Above the di-
visions and the discord. one dominant
note can be heard, Get a move on. -
There has been rising and swelling
instruction in the minds and hearts
of the people against social conditions
which seem to concentrate the colOred
lights Of joy on a small section Of
the community. whilst it condemns
multitudes to the dingy gloom which
is behind ana beneath.
Masses Are Submissive
1t has always been a constant
source of surprise to me that they
have stood these conditions so long
Why have they tolerated this state Of
things? Shelley, in a song over a
century ago, urged upon them the 90
vIous truth, Eye are many-they are
few" But the ingrained habit Of
countless ages of submission and
servitude has held the masses down