USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Indiana in the War; an address by Hon. E.C. Toner, delivered Oct. 25, 1918 at the Lincoln Hotel, Indianapolis, Ind > Part 1
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M. L.
INDIANA COLLECTION
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LLU ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00724 6132
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=895.877
"Indiana, true to tradition, occupies the highest rank in the Republic in the service of her sons in this war."
Indiana in the War
AN ADDRESS BY
HON. EDWARD C. TONER OF ANDERSON
·Delivered October 25, 1918, at the Lincoln Hotel, Indianapolis, Indiana
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1758142
F 895 .877
Toner, Edward Carleton, 1871- ... Indiana in the war, an address by Hon. Edward C. Toner ... Delivered October 25, 1918, at the Lincoln --
hotel, Indianapolis, Indiana. [Anderson ? 1918]] -
31, 11| p. 223em.
SHELF CARD
1. European war, 1914-1918-Indiana. 1. Title.
22-7319
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Library of Congress
D)570.85.1 6'T7
F893.877
Mr. Toner is the publisher of the Anderson Herald. He was Pro- gressive candidate for Congress in the Eighth Indiana District in 1912, Chairman of the Progressive State Committee in the campaign of 1914 and Delegate-at-Large to the Republican National Convention at Chicago in 1916.
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INDIANA IN THE WAR
Shortly following an announcement in the newspapers last January that I was going to the war zones of Europe for a brief period as a representative of the American Red Cross, I was asked by Governor James P. Goodrich to come to his office.
We had overseas at that time about twenty-five hundred Indiana boys-the number has since been many times multi- plied-and the sympathy and the concern of Governor Goodrich were with those boys. He was anxious as the head of our State government that Indiana should do all in her power, not only "over here" but "over there" to administer to the comfort and the wellbeing of those boys, and he wanted me to investigate the situation abroad and report what could be done.
I accepted that commission. I am satisfied, as a result of the Governor's inspiration, a considerable service will be done and that the good old Hoosier State will not only contribute materially to the welfare and comfort of our boys overseas, but in that contribution will emphasize our affection and our appreciation of the wonderful service they are doing for their State, their country, and humanity.
· When I embarked at New York, there was a commission of six from Massachusetts designated to make the same investi- gation for Massachusetts.
Indiana and Massachusetts were the first. I wish I might convey to you an indication of the pride that thrilled me when I realized that Indiana was one of the two States first in this laudable purpose and effort. That pride was in no sense di- minished by the fact that our place was shared by Massa- chusetts. I recalled that back in Civil War days, Indiana, un- der Morton, was always foremost in patriotic war service, and I recalled that in her concern for her soldiers at the front, In- diana shared the first place only with Massachusetts.
Here again, in this world's war, Indiana and Massachusetts were together and foremost in an effort to protect their sons
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who were going by the thousands to break the shackles of a sinister domination of civilization and to sacrifice their lives, if need be, that a world might be free.
This is but an incident in the war activities of this great State. It is the incident, however, which particularly at- tracted my attention to Indiana's record in this war-a record that is unequalled by any State in the Union, one that has re- sulted from the aggressive leadership and initiative of a Re- publican Governor ..
It is fitting, indeed, in this crucial hour - perhaps the turning point in the war -- to examine this record and review Indiana's achievements which in no small measure have con- · tributed to our military successes.
There is an admirable summary of this record and these achievements in the statement of Secretary Daniels made at Indianapolis but a few weeks ago. In the Indianapolis News of September 3rd, this year, Secretary Daniels said:
"Indiana has more than met every requirement and expectation of these demanding days. Whether it has been money, men, munitions, supplies, crops, machin- ery, or whatever else, Indiana has done more than her share, and her sister States know she will continue as she has begun, and are proud of her. My closest inter- est is in the navy, of course, and I have been gratified especially by the quality no less than the number of Hoosiers who have enlisted in this wonderful arm of the service."
The indorsement of Secretary Daniels, a leader in the op- posing party is, of course, a gracious expression of the official and national recognition to which Indiana is well entitled.
Of course, the background of Indiana's record-the State's achievement in this war-consists in the high-minded, all- pervading and fixed devotion of our people to the safety and perpetuity of our Republican institutions. Citizenship in In- diana has a definite meaning. Our people, while enjoying the rights, privileges and immunities of a free government, are not unmindful of the obligations which citizenship implies and involves. It has always been so. The principle of national unity established by Morton at a time when civil war attacked our existence I think explains the consideration which every
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citizen of our commonwealth is willing to give to any assault upon our national honor.
Indiana is always right because her people are right. Her people are right because they are intelligent; because they have a fixed interest in politics and government and because they are accustomed to give considerable time to the perform- ance of their duties as instrumentalities for the expressions of a free choice in all matters of public concern. They read widely and discuss freely any and all matters which reflect the operation of the agencies at work in organized society. They would not want to shirk the responsibilities of prosecuting a war in which our country is involved any more than they are accustomed to shirk their responsibilities as citizens in the everyday events of life.
Still, they had to be organized. Action was what was needed. The dormant strength of a nation at war is of little use unless it finds concrete expression in all of the things which contribute to the waging of war. The patriotism of our citizens, their devotion to the common cause, their indi- vidual and undivided support of our declaration of war, their admitted intelligence in the performance of difficult tasks would have been futile but for the group action made possible by intelligent leadership. Indiana was able, in the other great crisis, to produce a Morton. In this crisis, Indiana has been equally fortunate in another Governor who has been willing and able to lead.
Back of all of our wonderful achievements since April 1, 1917, there was the inspiration, foresight, initiative, directing genius and organizing ability of Governor Goodrich. It is his personality that pervades the spirit of Indiana in this war. To him is due the credit which goes to intelligent leadership. There is credit enough for all-credit for our people who have well performed the difficult work assigned to them, credit to the Governor who foresaw the work necessary, planned and directed its execution.
There has been no wobbling in Indiana. With keen vision, Governor Goodrich saw the march of future events-marked with precision the State's course in the war and piloted her ac- tivities with a firm and vigorous hand without procrastination,
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without wavering, but with determined energy that Indiana · should be true to her traditions. He did not wait for the de- velopment of a war spirit to move him. He did not wait for public sentiment to impel executive action. He did not wait for a popular demand for preparedness. Among the first in the land, he saw the war demands of future days and prepared while others talked. By an aggressive initiative he moulded public sentiment and led the people of Indiana into the van- guard of effective, patriotism and practical preparedness.
INCREASED FOOD PRODUCTION.
Before we entered the war a year ago last April, the food situation in America was becoming critical. The demands of our present allies were for more and more food. The grow- ing scarcity of food was beginning to express itself in a frenzy of high prices and the national administration realized that nothing short of a concerted effort toward increased produc- tion throughout the Union could save us.
The national outcome of this situation was the enactment into law of the Lever bill, and the establishment of the Na- tional Food Administration, of which Herbert C. Hoover is the head.
It was on May 17, 1917, that the President asked Mr. Hoover to assume the proposed task of food control. It was not until June 12, 1917, that Mr. Hoover was asked by the President to begin assembling a voluntary organization for the purpose of food control, and it was not until August 10, 1917, that the Lever bill was passed by which the Food Ad- ministration was officially recognized.
We started in Indiana a strongly organized effort along the line of increased food production. We started this effort be- fore anything had been done elsewhere and long before the suggestion had come from Washington or from any of our sister States. This early start, arising from the early concep- tion of our national needs, was wonderfully rewarded by the bountiful results in increased production that year.
War was declared on April 6th, last year. The day before the declaration of war Indiana's forces were organized for food production at a meeting called by Governor Goodrich.
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This was upwards of a month before Mr. Hoover was asked to assume the proposed task of national food control, and it was upwards of two months before Mr. Hoover was asked to begin assembling a voluntary organization.
The call for this meeting of Indiana farmers was as fol- lows :
"The farmers of Indiana are the State's most valu- able asset in this time of stress. I have called a meet- ing of all the agricultural interests to mobilize Indiana agriculture. In the interests of large acreage, greater crops, prevention of waste, please attend conference, State House, Indianapolis, 10:00 a. m. Thursday, April 5."
More than five hundred men and women from over the State assembled at the State House in response to this call by Governor Goodrich. A definite result of this meeting was an arrangement for meetings in all the county seats in the State on Saturday, April 7th. The following telegram was sent by Governor Goodrich to county agents in all counties having such officials and to leading citizens in all other counties :
"We must organize Indiana agriculture to meet the demands for food forced by war conditions abroad and exhausted supply at home."
Working through Prof. G. I. Christie, of Purdue Univer- sity, lately appointed assistant secretary of agriculture, who came to Indianapolis at the Governor's request, through Dr. L. E. Northrup, his appointee as State Veterinarian, and through Dr. H. E. Barnard, later appointed Federal Food Adminis- trator, the whole State was aroused by Governor Goodrich to the necessity of immediate action. The cultivation of idle soil, the careful selection of seed, the use of tractors in many places, and the planting of war gardens were various aspects of what was undertaken.
As a result of this co-operation, in 1917 Indiana planted nearly 600,000 more acres of corn than were planted in 1916. This increased acreage yielded more than 24,000,000 bushels in addition to the normal yield, which at an average price of $1.50 per bushel, amounted to $36,000,000.
As a result of the campaign to increase the wheat produc-
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tion, there was an increase of 524,000 acres sown in the fall of 1917 and harvested in the summer of 1918. On an average yield of nineteen bushels per acre and with a selling price of $2.10 per bushel, the increased monetary return from wheat in Indiana was $22,907,600.
As a result of the campaign launched by Governor Good- rich in 1917, Indiana planted more than 500,000 war gardens. These war gardens yielded the State, in addition to the food products made available, approximately $1,000,000 over usual and normal returns. In 1918 the number of war gardens planted has exceeded 600,000.
The campaign to increase the production of pork, started by Governor Goodrich, has been particularly successful.
After Mr. Hoover's appointment as Federal Food Admin- istrator, the effort to produce more pork became nation-wide. Indiana's machinery for doing this work, constructed under the personal direction of Governor Goodrich, has been featured throughout the country. Forrest Crissey has described the plan in detail in the Country Gentleman. The machinery reaches out from the office of the State Veterinarian to deputy veterinarians in seventeen districts of the State. It compre- hends agents of the Bureau of Animal Husbandry, local vet- erinarians, county agents and, in fact, everybody who is will- ing to co-operate.
The machinery includes a clearance system for returning light hogs from the stockyards to the farmers for further feed- ing-a system that has been copied by a score of States and that has been urged by Mr. Hoover for adoption throughout the country.
What has this thoroughly organized effort accomplished ? Results are the yard-stick of efficiency, and the results of this effort speak eloquently of the plan as well as of the patriotic co-operation of Indiana people. Summing up the results of the work in the Indiana Farmer's Guide, published in Huntington, Dr. Northrup himself has said :
"A glance at the records of the receipts at the In- dianapolis stockyards for February, 1918, comparing them with the receipts for February, 1917, show wealth created by a magic touch beyond the dreams of Midas.
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The receipts for February, 1918, were 339,543, as against 157,268 for February, 1917, an increase of 182,275. The average weight of the hogs received in February, 1918, was 223 pounds as against 198 pounds in February, 1917. This is in the Indianapolis yards alone, and the proportionate increase would be shown in the yards at Evansville, Lafayette and other points. "This makes an increase for the month for the In- dianapolis yard receipts of 44,579,025 pounds of pork, which at 1716 cents per pound, a very fair quotation for February, 1918, means an increased value of more than $7,500,000."
Where is there a State in the Union that can show such re- sults in increased food production for war purposes? These results were accomplished under a Republican administration, under the inspiration and the direction of a Republican Gov- ernor, and they give us reason tonight for an increased pride in our party's leadership and its achievements. These results, contributing so powerfully to the prosecution of the war, also give us renewed assurance that Republican governments can be efficient in waging war for a righteous cause.
UNNECESSARY BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION STOPPED.
About a month after America entered the war, Governor Goodrich issued a circular letter to county, township, city and town authorities. He advised these authorities to postpone the letting of all contracts for roads, public buildings and structures of every kind not imperatively demanded in the public interest. This action on the part of the Governor was generously criticised by selfish interests.
This was another step in the plan of the Governor for mobilizing the full force of the State for war and related work.
The letter issued by Governor Goodrich occasioned consid- erable discussion. A great many people, a bit reluctant to sub- ordinate their personal interests to the demand of a world crisis, rallied behind the banner of "Business as Usual." They failed to foresee that business could not remain "as usual"' when tens of millions of the productive men and women of
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America were to be drafted either into the service overseas or into the work necessary and incident to the feeding and supplying of our armies and our allies. They failed to fore- see the magnitude of the task of supplying our armies with clothing and munitions, our government with ships, improved railway service and supplies of a thousand kinds directly re- lated to the war. The administration at Washington was for a time among those that followed the banner of "Business as Usual." The administration at Washington, along with the masses of people throughout the land, came to realize that there could not be "business as usual" if the country were to engage seriously for the defense of its rights and its honor and the redemption of free governments by means of war, and fell into line behind the policy of Governor Goodrich.
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While I was in France I had opportunity to learn at first hand the attitude of our allies, who had already been in war nearly four years. They had learned in France from the gruelling trials of experience that "business as usual" was unthinkable. Their commitment at that time was to a willing though amazing sacrifice with their eye singly upon the win- ning of the war. I was present when Henri Bouillon, member of the Chamber of Deputies and Secretary of the Interior of France, said :
"This generation in France realizes the national as well as the personal sacrifice involved. We inherited a country well developed and advanced and we inherited an obligation to carry forward that development. All plans along that line even long since stopped. We can't build bridges or monuments. We can't build roads or buildings. We can't reach out along lines of culture. We will turn our country over to the succeeding gen- eration not improved during our possession and, what is more, bankrupt. We will, however, turn it over free, and that now is our one and absorbing aim."
This was the position taken by Governor Goodrich-a posi- tion which to others in America seemed unnecessary. He anticipated conditions that were not only inevitable but at the time imminent.
The Governor's action proved most important and helpful. By reason of it, millions of dollars and thousands of men in In- diana were released for the strictly necessary enterprises of
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military importance. Otherwise, they might have been tied up indefinitely.
It is a noteworthy evidence of our Governor's foresight that the administration at Washington finally abandoned the "Business as Usual" banner and subscribed fully and heartily to his plan. That plan today has been carried even further, and it is a direction of the administration at Washington at this time that the most rigid restrictions be placed on all build- ing, private as well as public, to the end that the producing forces of the nation be as fully applied as possible to the win- ning of the war.
WORK OF PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.
The Indiana Public Service Commission, a majority of the members of which were appointed by Governor Goodrich, has stood out conspicuously as an agency of great importance in the war plans of the national government.
The Governor had a full realization of the importance of this branch of the State service and at the outset disregarded politics in the reorganization of this commission.
The late William J. Wood, a Democrat, was appointed to membership on this commission, giving that party majority representation when the Governor might have made it Repub- lican. Mr. Wood, however, was appointed because of his ex- ceptional ability and politics was wholly ignored.
The commission, under the chairmanship of Ernest I. Lewis, is not only non-partisan but in a comparatively brief period has gained a wide reputation for wisdom and absolute impartiality that has made its influence felt far beyond State lines.
It was the Public Service Commission of Indiana, at the suggestion of Governor Goodrich, that after a thorough inves- tigation laid the basis for the creation of the National Fuel Administration.
Governor Goodrich, himself, appeared before a committee of the United States Congress to urge the enactment of the law creating the Fuel Administration. Most of the information collected for the Fuel Administration by the Federal Trade Commission regarding coal mining costs was gathered by In- diana accountants detailed from the State Board of Accounts.
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If the Federal Fuel Administration disregarded these costs and this information in fixing prices and established prices unwarranted by the facts, it was no fault of the Indiana of- ficials. Neither was it a mistake of the Governor's plan of ad- ministration.
This commission has prevented many threatened strikes in the Indiana coal fields by using its good offices in many in- stances. It was able to speed up production in a substantial measure by requiring the railroads to furnish improved serv- ice in transporting miners and in many other ways.
The results speak for themselves. While the gain in coal production during 1917, dependent in a large measure upon these factors, amounted to about ten per cent for the country as a whole, Indiana showed a gain of 5,000,000 tons for the year, or twenty-five per cent.
Those who recall the heatless Mondays will appreciate the importance of coal as a factor in the winning of the war and know what these figures mean. It is necessary for the produc- tion of ordnance, and for industrial production generally, and the United States must continue to furnish millions of tons to our allies or they would be comparatively helpless and the war would be lost.
On account of the threatened shortage of man-power and material necessary in strictly war enterprises, the Indiana Public Service Commission adopted a policy that anticipated the National Government by more than a year. In harmony with the expressed policy of Governor Goodrich that there be no unnecessary public building, the commission decided that there should be no extensions of public utilities service, new water and gas mains, electric light or street railway lines, or telephone circuits-except in cases where extreme necessity was apparent. Within the past six weeks, the Capital Issues Committee of the Federal Government announced a policy of refusing to authorize any further extensions of this character during the period of the war.
The Public Service Commission of Indiana was the first in the country to adopt the method of giving temporary relief to public utilities in consideration of the increased cost of coal, labor and materials, caused by the war. President Wilson, himself, the Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. McAdoo, and the
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Controller of the Currency, Mr. Williams, have since em- phasized the importance of maintaining the solvency of these vital functions in our municipal life. The public utilities in no instance, however, have been permitted to capitalize the war to the prejudice of the public.
When Mr. McAdoo issued his famous General Order No. 28 by which freight rates throughout the country were in- creased from 25 to 300 per cent, an order promulgating many rates that are prohibitive, unreasonable and discriminatory, the commission instead of doing what many commissions did and still do-deny his authority to make railroad rates at all- recognized his authority in the face of adverse criticism and undertook to obtain an adjustment of the schedules.
The work of the Public Service Commission has been mul- tiplied by present conditions. A period of inflation has upset all calculations. Expenses of operation have mounted beyond reason and where receipts are fixed and unyielding there is imminent peril. The burden of finding a way out falls on the Public Service Commission. Instead of hearing approx- imately six hundred cases a year it is now hearing two thou- sand cases a year. In a sense, it is a safety valve of business. It is accomplishing an extraordinary work, and to its great credit is accomplishing this work in a way that merits and ob- tains the unqualified approval of our citizens. It is function- ing one hundred per cent in Indiana's war work and in her ne- cessities growing out of war conditions. It is a significant fact that since the reorganization of the commission, not a single appeal to the courts involving rates established by the commission has been taken.
INDIANA AT THE FRONT.
Indiana, true to tradition, occupies the highest rank in the Republic in the service of her sons in this war.
Indiana was among the first to give in blood and treasure to the cause of the Union in the Civil War. Under the leader- ship of Governor Morton she made a record that reflects credit and honor on her today.
Her sons, imbued with the same patriotic devotion and courage and fired and inspired by the leadership of Governor
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Goodrich, are making the same extraordinary record in this war.
Fired by the spirit of Morton as visualized by the present Governor, Indiana has furnished more volunteers for the regu- lar army than any State in the Union, regardless of size. The State was asked for 5,400 volunteers for the army and gave to the nation 25,148. She was asked for 800 volunteers for the navy and gave to the nation 5,516. In the number of volunteers for the army she leads all the States in the Union regardless of their size. In the number of volunteers for the navy she leads all the States in the Union on the basis of popu- lation.
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