USA > Indiana > Lake County > The First Hundred Years (1938) > Part 14
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In a thousand years from now, if a history of this region is written, Aaron Norton Hart should hold a prominent place in the story of its development.
June 20, 1930 BUYING THE RIGHT TO GOVERN
This is the heading of an article in the Christian Century, a journal of religion published in Chicago. It says :
"Is America to be governed by money? Has the nation reached the point where, in its populous states, only the pos- sessors of great wealth can aspire successfully to high office? Are seats in the Senate to be knocked down to the highest bid- der? Is democracy, after having fought off the advance of bu- reauocracy, to give place to plutocracy ?"
Then it goes on to show the cost of Mrs. Ruth Hanna Mc- Cormick's campaign in her race for the Senate in Illinois. She says it cost her $250,000.00, five times the amount that William Lorimer's campaign cost in 1910. So you see that the high cost of campaigning is increasing. Mr. Lorimer was expelled from his seat. Truman H. Newberry of Detroit spent $190,000.00 in his campaign against Henry Ford, but public indignation com- pelled him to resign. Then came the case of Frank L. Smith of Illinois with a campaign expense of $450,000.00. He was not al- lowed to take his seat. Wm. S. Vane of Philadelphia beat them all in the high cost of office. He reached $750,000.00, but he was not allowed to take his seat.
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Conditions are about the same here in Lake County, only the stakes are not so high. But they are high enough so that a con- scientious man or woman would hesitate to enter the game. Mrs. McCormick deplored the fact that she had to spend so much money, but she said she had merely played the game as she found it. It takes one with a gambling disposition to put up sev- eral times the amount of the salary of the office to get the nom- ination, let alone the election, which shows plainly enough that they expect there will be a way out, and this way out is likely to be at a terrible cost to the tax payers.
This is a government of the people. So, if there is anything wrong with the government, it is the people's fault and theirs alone. It looks to some of us as if the people of the United States do not know enough, or have not honesty enough, to maintain this kind of government. When a man who, the State Board of Accounts claims, collects excessive charges during his term of of- fice can be renominated for the office through the use of his mon- ey, as has occurred, we may not be surprised at anything.
A new feature of expense to candidates is that of having the women to work for them before election and at the polls. Do the women do this in the interests of good government or for the money they get out of it? We had faith in the women purifying politics, but we fail to see any very marked improvement in the last ten years. We shall have a more honest and a better gov- ernment when the people are more intelligent and honest, and not before.
-S. B. Woods.
CELEBRATING THE FOURTH
July 4, 1930, has come and gone, and a great time was had at Wicker Park, Crown Point, Griffith and many other places in the county, but we wonder how many in the crowds that cele- brated the day really did it in the spirit of 1776. How many gave a thought to our early fathers who sacrificed so much that we might have an "independence day," or to the ideals and prin- ciples for which they fought?
A casual observer at some of our celebrations might think that giving the people an opportunity to listen to the band, buy red lemonade, gingerale, pop, popcorn, chewing gum, cold sand- wiches and hot dogs, and play the corn game and knock down the babies for a cheap cigar or a kewpie, was the chief purpose and meaning of the Fourth. There is often nothing to awaken heart-felt gratitude and sacred consecration which, it seems, the day and its costly origin should inspire. The majority seem to know or think little about these.
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We would not be too critical or pessimistic, but we do think it would be more conducive to good citizenship if our celebrations were kept above the level of a cheap carnival. Have one great time eating, dancing, shooting off fire-crackers and sky-rockets- it is all right and proper to have a good time. But would it not be in good taste to give a part of the program of the day to a re- consideration of the Declaration of Independence or to some ex- ercise for helping in the education of the people for a higher standard of citizenship?
Sometime, somehow in this democracy, where the will of the people is sovereign, we must arouse the people to their responsi- bility as free citizens and voters. What day could we select for this purpose better than July 4th ?
WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE?
The Rio Grande River forms the boundary line between Tex- as and the country of Mexico. Brownsville, on one side, is in the United State and Matamoras, just across the river, is in Mexico.
Fifteen years ago the two sides of the river were exactly alike, for the most part in their natural state, covered with brush and undergrowth and producing very little. Today the United States side of the river is called "The Magic Valley," producing a superior quality of grapefruit and winter garden truck galore for northern markets. Brownsville is a prosperous modern city, while Matamoras is much the same as it was fifteen years ago and the country about it still in its natural unproductive state.
What makes the difference? Brains, ambition and well di- rected effort.
We, in this part of the promising Calumet region, can get suggestions from the story of Brownsville and Matamoras. It shows us plainly that growth and development are brought about by hard work and good management. Therefore we can expect that our town or community will grow and develop just in pro- portion to the well directed efforts we put into it.
A CROWN POINT REPORTER EYES TAXPAYERS' MEETING WITH DISAPPROVAL
An item from a Crown Point reporter appeared in the Lake County Times Monday with the large bold-faced heading stretch- ing across the front page, "Taxpayers' Meeting at Crown Point a Fizzle." Then the reporter gives us some interesting facts (?) which attendance at the meeting failed to reveal. He reports that less than 150 were present and, with this simple premise up- on which to base his logic, he jumps to the apparently merry and
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satisfying conclusion that "Lake County taxpayers are either sat- isfied with existing conditions or have no interest in them."
He goes on to say that "although lacking in number, those who were there demonstrated in a determined and vociferous manner that they are in favor of a reduction of taxes, and for awhile the vociferousness almost threatened to end the meeting." (We were not aware of this until we read it in the Lake County Times.)
The climax of this extraordinary feat of reporting comes when he tells about one of the farmers saying in his speech that "we've got to get bolsheviki," and adds that this farmer express- ed the feeling existent in the meeting! (We failed to hear the remark, and were not sensitive to such a feeling.)
SAM B. WOODS REPLIES TO ARTICLE IN LAKE COUNTY TIMES
Editor of Lake County Times :
Your correspondent from Crown Point of yesterday must have been one of those fellows that are trying to curry the favor of an animal that has its feet in the trough. And there are plenty of them around here that seem to be interested in the very ex- travagant use of public monies and have no respect or considera- tion for the taxpayer.
In their fight on the court house moving question I have stood for Crown Point but, considering the attitude of a lot of those suckers, if Hammond or Gary want the court house they can have it as far as I am concerned.
Considering that every community of farmers were thrashing on Saturday, the day of the meeting, we had a good turnout and the interest and enthusiasm were splendid and, as chairman of the meeting, I did not see any of the vociferousness that was out to end the meeting. But we are determined, in the interest of men, women and children who are sweating blood to earn money to pay their taxes, that it will not be distributed among them like that "runt of a rose" or the "tough tread" and several other tough propositions.
According to the best authority, Joe Brown came to the meeting and made a good speech, effort worthy of a better cause. We appreciate Joe's courage and thank him for doing it for it brought out just what we wanted. C. Oliver Holmes abused no one, but was pleading the cause of the taxpayer and he did a masterly job. He was the only one of the republican senators or representatives that was there and we asked them all to come.
J. N. Holloway was master of the situation.
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G. N. Bingham, noted lecturer at the Crown Point Chautau- qua on the cause of crime, said that, according to our State Board of Accounts, we have an identical case in Lake County today as he reported in their town, and the county officers there are serv- ing a term in the penitentiary, and I can assure the reporters of the Times that the commissioners' case will be taken up in due course.
We expected more from the north end of the county at the meeting. This was a county meeting and not a farmers' meeting, but if the northend taxpayers are satisfied or bashful and do not want to come in great numbers we propose to go ahead and fight just as long as there is any injustice to fight.
WANTED: Information regarding chicken thieves who have been busy in this community recently. Address S. B. Woods, Crown Point, Indiana.
June 13, 1930
POLITICAL CORRUPTION
In June, 1776, Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, offered this resolution in Congress : "Resolved, That these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states." John Adams seconded the resolution, and a committee of five was ap- pointed to draw up the Declaration of Independence, and John Hancock and the rest signed it in bold characters, which the king of England could read without spectacles. When this was done they had business on their hands. It meant something! They were standing for a principle. Quoting from the declaration : "and for the support of this declaration we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor." As one of them said: they must all hang together, or they would surely hang separately. Now this is my theme: Working and hanging together for a good cause and a principle. Each and every one of us have a duty to perform in keeping and main- taining free and independent states and conditions. Our govern- ment is just as good and no better than the people make it. There is a large class who are interested in politics for a selfish, mean purpose-for what they can make out of public office and public plunder. The saloons of this country are headquarters during every political campaign and, ninety-nine times out of one hundred, are working against, rather than for, the best interests of our country. The professional politician will use unfair means and money to secure votes and when he gets into office sell out to the highest bidder. Then who is to keep this good United States
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free and independent? It is the common people who should be, if they are not, deeply interested in good government. Women, as well as men, should be interested enough to keep themselves posted on conditions in our country, so they can talk and act in- telligently on all public questions. We should vote for the best public officials and for the best men.
I have a very poor opinion of a party man-one who always votes his party ticket, right or wrong. He is not free and inde- pendent. He is a thing that is part of the machine. He is not a good American citizen. Abraham Lincoln gave us good advice when he said : "Let us have faith that right make might, and in that faith let us to the end dare to do our duty as we understand it." What would be the result if every American voter would dare to do his duty as he understood it? It seems to me that is. where most of the trouble lies with the average American citizen. They are moral cowards in a great many instances. If they were called to arms for this country's cause they would face the can- non's mouth without a quiver, but there is need of patriots every day and every year. If the people would show their fighting qualities and patriotism in time of peace in most instances we would evade these bloody wars. The worst elements are working to further their ends while the better elements are so busy at- tending to their own business that they have little time to devote to public affairs, and if some of these self-satisfied citizens are approached on some public question that is important to the wel- fare of the country, if they have no better reason for not getting on their fighting armor, they will fall back upon the much quoted reason : "What is the use, you can't do anything anyway?"
Right makes might and if we have the fight in us we can do a whole lot and if we don't do it at the proper time we ought to be ashamed of ourselves. I believe we have a job on our hands: that will require the best in a great number of American citizens, and that is to Americanize and civilize the vast throng of foreign- ers coming to this country daily. Last year there were something over twelve hundred thousand foreigners landed on our shores. What is going to be done with them? Or are they going to do us? Are we going to Americanize them or are they going to foreign- ize us? Look at our glorious Fourth of July celebrations. Do you see and hear the spirit of '76? Not very often. It is general- ly a lager beer picnic and dance. There is a cause for this and the cause is the American people are losing their patriotism. Let them get the spirit of '76 and go at it with a vim and they will win every time.
What are the great organized moral forces, the churches, and their members, doing today for the bringing about of "Thy king-
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dom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven"? Very little, compared with what they might do. They seem to be hu- man and looking out for themselves and their church, and letting the other fellow look after the public welfare. It seems to me if the church would dare and had the faith to think that "right makes might," they could work wonders with the help of the good moral people outside of the church. This, to me is so im- portant I wish to quote the opinions of two Englishmen, "Gypsy" Smith, and the Rev. Thomas Law, who have recently returned to the other side after a tour of this country, as recently given in the Western Christian Advocate. Evangelist Smith was asked the following questions: "What of municipal government and polities generally? Is there more corruption than in England?" His answer was:
"Undoubtedly, the best men will have nothing to do with polities, and the inevitable result follows. The church needs rousing to a sense of its duty. Why, I think it is my duty to vote as much as to say my prayers. How can I pray 'Thy king- dom come,' and then not care whether the man who is going to control our affairs is a man pledged to righteousness or to evil- doing? They need a new conception of civic duty. The church could sweep the boards if she cared to."
In reply to a question as to the political outlook in this coun- try, Rev. Law said: "The one alarming feature about America is that the religious people and the churches are not in the least degree touching the civic life. They admit that this life is rotten, but they fold their hands helplessly and ask, 'How are we to remedy matters?' I told them that all Christian men and wom- en in the country ought to tackle the situation by taking part in municipal life and getting elected to positions of influence in civic life. Their reply was that when public-spirited Christians tried this, it simply meant that the other side redoubled the bribery and corruption and got the better of their clean opponents. I think this spells national and moral wreckage for America. That is the weakest side of American life-the fact that the churches have no direct influence on civic life. The ministers deplore it, but say that if they attempt to do anything, their churches regard them as giving themselves over to worldly concerns. I was forced to admit that the obstacles were too strong for individuals to ov- ercome, but I said that where single efforts had failed, a combina- tion of the churches, properly organized, could succeed. I came away with the conviction that the future well-being of the Ameri- can republic depends largely upon such a combination."
It is time that as a people we were doing something to relieve
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the political corruption we see about us. It is up to us as men, free and God fearing men, irrespective of church or party.
(I wrote this article 23 years ago and it is just as true for today as it was then, only the saloons are not in existence now. However, the same old influence of the drink habit is here and there are those who do not want to obey the law, and the church is learning that they have some responsibility in maintaining good government.)
Lake Co., Ind.
Sam B. Woods.
December 12, 1930 ON KIRKLAND CASE AT GARY
Just One Cause
F. W. Backemeyer, in an article in the Voice of the People section of the Gary Post Tribune of December 4, writes one of the sanest articles that we have seen on the frightful Gary tragedy which cost the life of a young girl. We quote it here in its entirety :
The shadow of the recent tragedy is haunting practically the entire city of Gary. The very atmosphere about us is heavy with the death-damp that sin often leaves in its wake. And to add to the consternation of the public come now those who take this opportunity of putting the blame on the prohibition law.
Is it humanly possible, Mr. Editor, that we have come to a day when men who are supposed to have their faculties of mind in possession are boldly and audaciously attempting to feed an already gullible public with one more blatant and damnable false- hood? There is but one cause for a tragedy such as has again dragged the name of Gary into the dust of hell, and that is the element in the human heart best described by a little word of three letters, which we are in this fast age trying to forget or to ignore-sin. We who use that word are considered old fogies, back numbers, "Puritans"! And yet, it is the only word that does explain what is now wrenching our hearts. One feels a pro- found sorrow for the young perpetrators. How can one help feeling sorry for them? Personally I feel sorry for any man who sins. But my feeling sorry for him does not mean that I must look about for some cause other than the real one in order to ex- plain as dastardly a crime as this one proves to have been.
And just now, when many who are wanting prohibition done away with are looking for every opportunity to chalk up something against it, we hear the whine that we knew would be forthcoming, "Blame prohibition !" And the full force of the diabolical reasoning employed is seen in the final conclusion,
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than which no more unpatriotic and vicious attitude can be con- ceived, viz., "Laws that can not be enforced should not be on the statute books."
On that basis we ought immediately set free those who are now in our prisons. Every inmate is really substituting for oth- ers who are not there. Why be so unfair? Let them all go. The fact that they are there, and others who ought to be are not, is ample proof that certain laws besides the prohibition law are be- ing violated, and successfully. Gangland in Chicago, it has been shown, involves much more money than bootleg liquor. The laws against gambling, then, can not be enforced. Take them out of the statute books, and free the prisoners. The laws against rob- bery, burglary, rape, arson and a hundred other kinds of crime are in the same category. Open the prison doors. Let them out! Take the laws off the statute books! "A law that can not be enforced," we are told, "should not be in our statutes !"
How long will the public believe the sincerity of those who are thus adding their weight to an already subsidized metropoli- tan press that has for months sought one thing above all else, viz., to discredit prohibition? Not very long. The tide will soon turn, and when it does, the wickedness of the opposition will be exposed. So diabolical and underhanded are its methods that one loses heart. It remains to be seen whether we have a gov- ernment that can stand under the daily and hourly attacks of the enemies of law and decency. No man should speak one word that would give comfort to those enemies, hardboiled as they are to the nth degree.
The fact of liquor is in no sense an excuse for a crime. The truth is, it only makes the crime worse. The thing that lies back of it is just plain, ordinary, everyday cowardly vicious passionate sinfulness. And until that fact is recognized and multitudes do so recognize it, it will go on. Sodom and Gomorrah may yet be transplanted. And the fire may again fall from heaven. But for God's sake, and humanity's sake, let's use our brains as well as our prejudices in passing judgment. We have had enough "dumb- bell" logic to last America for a long time. Isn't it time for a bit of religion?
December 26, 1930 CROOKS AND THEIR LAWYERS
Rev. George B. Jones, whom a great many people in this community know, clipped an editorial with the above title from a recent issue of the Indianapolis Star and sent it to Mr. S. B
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Woods, with the comment: "This hits one nail on the head." We think he is right.
The responsibility of the lawyers of the country in connec- tion with crime waves and lawlessness in general was stressed by George O. Dix of Terre Haute, former president of the Indi- ana Bar Association, speaking at the crime conference held last week at Indiana university. He minced no words in pointing out the part played by the bench and bar in defeating justice and en- couraging criminals. He said very truly that an organized and insistent bar can get rid of the lawyer who is the mainstay of the crook in trouble.
"We must bring both the bench and the bar to a sober reali- zation that the function of a trial is to ascertain the truth and that a trial is not a game wherein the skill and adroitness of the opposing lawyers become the important, if not the controlling, factor," Mr. Dix said. Technicalities, uncertainties and delay, as he pointed out, all tend to defeat justice. The possibilities opened to skillful criminal lawyers make exceedingly difficult the con- viction of crooks who are able to resort to all the avenues of de- lay and escape opened by our laws and procedure.
It is possible to think of a criminal trial at which the judge, the prosecution and the jurors as well as the defense might be completely convinced of the accused's guilt and yet not able to make him pay the penalty for his crime. A policeman, or any other officer, who would help a guilty man to escape punish- ment would be prosecuted. A lawyer, who is a sworn officer of the court, can bend all his energies and talents to protecting a criminal and get rich at it instead of being sent to jail as an ac- cessory after the fact. As Mr. Dix says, we need to root out the unscrupulous lawyers in order to make a good job of coping with crime.
ARE OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS EFFICIENT?
It is not the proper thing to criticize or complain of the manner of conducting our public schools, or to complain of the cost of them. The proper thing is to say : "You can not pay too much for education."
If one should offer opinion that our schools could be conduct- ed in a different manner, giving more benefit to the student in the way of more practical knowledge, and for the bettering of the future citizenry, he would be considered "out of date" and not progressive.
Appreciating the situation and knowing the serious con- sequences of meddling with the "sacred business" of conducting
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our public schools, I am not going to offer any suggestions. As James R. Angell said in a quotation from the Southeast Calumet News: "Free education at the taxpayer's expense is only war- ranted if the State actually gets back value received in trained discipline and public spirited citizens."
Our taxes are so high that, among the majority of taxpay- ers, it is such a burden that, after paying other necessary ex- penses, they have not enough left to properly keep up their homes for themselves and children. About one-half our taxes go to the support of our public schools-and really now, are we getting our money's worth? Are our children going out from the public schools equipped for the battles of life? Has the edu- cation been to make them industrious, honest, economical, thrifty citizens, or is there a lot of frills and boibles, and a great lot of gymnastics, that gives them a false idea of the important things of life ?
I have heard several people say (and they seemed to know what they were talking about) that we are going to seed on sports in our public schools. In Denmark every child is given a good, practical business education, making them not only able, but willing, to go out into the world and make an honest living -while here some of our high school scholars and those just out of school want to "make a raise" without labor.
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