The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-06-10

spending millions of dollars fol
food relief in other states, Indiana
has never received any such relief
The amount of damage caused By
the overflow of the Wabash river
and its tributaries to the farm lands
Of Indiana and Illinois is hard tt
estimate. With the great flood de-
struction of Dec, 1929, and Jan.
1890, fresh in our minds. we car
safely say that flood relief is nov
a great necessity. We would, there
fore, recommend hearty and Wig
orous support to the WabaSh-M Maui
NEE Valley Improvement Associa-
ton that has been doing such splen-
did work to get this matter before
congress for action.
Labor
We reafirm adherence to the dem
ocratic fundamental that all men are
and Of right ought to be equal be-
for the law. Labor is not a commod-
ity. Contracts of employment that
impinge on the employees civil rights
to that extent violate the workman's
constitutional guarantees. Such con-
tracts known as yellow dog" con-
tracts are condemned. Trade unions
are legal entities performing dis
tinctive service in our school and in
dustrial life. The right of men to
organize is fundamental.
The use of the writ of injunction
in labor disputes should he defined
by statute and the right of trial by
jury of those charged with indirect
contempt should be safeguarded by
law. The state should point the way
safeguarding the work places OF
those employed in mine, shop, fac
tory, mill and transportation. Insan-
itary work shops are as much a
social hazard as is unguarded ma
chinery.
Experience has proved the social
value of the workmen's compensa-
ton law. This law should be liberal
lied to the point that it compares
favorably with similar statutes in
our border states. Inmates of our
penal and correctional institutions
can not be kept in idleness, but the
product of their industry should not
find it's way to the market in unfair
competition with free labor. Com
tract prison labor should be pro-
hibited.
There must be no weakening of the
child labor laws of this state. We
recognize the value of capital and
labor invested in coal mining in In
diana. The Democratic party pledges
adherence to these expressions OF So
cial import and adhere thereto,
whether it be through the legislative,
the administrative or the judicial
branches of the government.
We favor legislation providing for
the permanent registration Of voters
to the end that the sancity Of the
ballot may be preserved.
Utilities
The public service commission as
established was intended to protect
the public from unjust rates and
to award only fair returns on
actually invested capital. Its pur-
pose can be carried out only by
members who realize that 1t should
be so administered and not for the
payment Of political debts by I'M
just rates; by members who realize
this obligation to the public; by
members who will carry out their
duties without bias, undue pressure,
and political influence.
We believe in full measure of
local self government in all matters
affecting the management of mu-
nicipally owned utilities as the
nature of the business will admit
Agriculture
The Democratic party has ever
been and still remains the real
friend of the masses of which the
farmer is large part. We, there
fore, reaffirm our promise to do
everything possible in keeping with
good business to place agriculture on
par with labor and industry.
We condemn the Republican lead
ers for their failure to bring the
immediate farm relief promised two
years ago, and their slowness in de-
veloping plan to bring agriculture
under the same protection afforded
industry for many years, and be-
lieve a complete solution of the farm
problem will never be realized I'M
der Republican leadership.
1t being impossible to control
farm production, the tariff on sur
plus farm crops is ineffective, and
places the farmer on an open world
market for many Of our staple crops
and forces him to purchase in a
highly protected market.
We reaffirm our belief that the
government can take care of the ex-
portable surplus crops without loss
by distributing the cost to the pro-
ducers which would curtail overpro-
duction and place agriculture on an
equality with industry.
We condemn the Republican mem
bers of congress for failing to keep
their promise of revising the tariff
so as to make it more favorable to
agriculture, but instead they are
considering tariff bill more dis
criminatory against agriculture than
any tariff ever considered by any
congress.
Care of the Aged
The present method of caring for
the aged poor in asylums violates
the humane and generous sentiments
which would preserve for the poor
the freedom to choose their own en-
vironment and the opportunity of
untrammeled social communications
with relatives and friends and
agreeable companions.
A careful study of the available
facts indicates that the present
method is likewise extravaganza and
uneconomic.
There should be just and equita-
bic old age pension system worked