3 K x ^ ;a Inaugural Address of .Samuel M. Ralston, Governor-elect. Released for publication at 1 o’clock, Monday, Jan. 13 , 1913 . Senators, Representatives and Fel- low Citizens: The oath I have just taken binds me most solemnly to the faithful dis- charge of high official duties. It pledges me to loyalty to the constitu- tion of my state and to the constitu- tion of my country, and imposes upon me duties to the citizenship under both. The sincerity with which 1 have taken this obligation cannot now be known to those whom I am pledg- ed to serve. By my official conduct their confidence in me will either be strengthened or destroyed. I intend it shall be strengthened. On the 13th day of January, 1873 — forty years ago this day — one of In- diana’s most cultured gentlemen and ablest statesmen, Thomas A. Hen- dricks, was inaugurated Governor of Indiana. In his inaugural address he said: “It is not expected of me upon this occasion to consider, with any degree of particularity, the subjects of leg islation that may occupy your atten- tion at the present session. That duty has been discharged by my pre- decessor. But I cannot avoid a refer- ence to some subjects of special in- terest and importance.” As in the case of the predecessor of Governor Hendricks, my distin- guished predecessor, Governor Mar- shall, has complied with the provision of the Constitution requiring the Gov- ernor to communicate with the Gener- al Assembly, and this renders it un- necessary that I should address a formal message to the legislature at this time. The reference I shall now make to any particular subject of leg- islation will be made not so much with a view of indicating the char- acter of any law that shoudl be enact- ed as with a view of showing the di- rection I am now facing and shall con- tinue to face during my administra- tion. I assume that the Democratic ma- jority of the present legislature will abide by and promptly proceed to carry out the last platform declara- tions made by its party in this state. This will include- an efficient primary election law and a general revision of the road laws. Not to carry out this platform would be a betrayal of the people’s confidence. Numerous and serious questions fiequently arise between public utili- ties companies and their patrons or customers, involving in many in- stances to a greater or less extent the public. These questions sometimes take the form ( st ' real controversies growing out of yiods pursued pulsory under the Indiana constitu- tion is a question. If a law on this subject is enacted containing a com- pulsory provision and it otherwise meets my approval I shall let the supreme court say whether it is constitutional. In my opening campaign speech last fall, I stated that while I person- ally favored a constitutional conven tion, I had no authority to commit my party to such a movement, but that without regard to my individual views, I would, in ( the event of my election, make sucli recommendations as to the advisability of calling a convention as I believed fairly repre- sented the views of the people. What then are the views of the peo- ple on this subject? The Democratic legislature in 1911 believed that the present constitution of Indiana did not meet the requirements of the peo- ple, and so holding it prepared for sub- mission to the voters of Indiana a new constitution. The Progressive and the Republi- can parties in their respective plat- forms of 1912 declared in favor of a constitutional convention. So unless the Democratic legislature of 1911 and the Progressive and the Republi- , an parties were all mistaken the people of Indiana are in reed of and want a new constitution. Is it strange that they should desire an up-to-date organic law? Their present constitution was adopted, more than sixty years ago. Since* then the development of our state ha3 been marvelous. Its population has greatly increased and its intellectual social and material progress have mul- tiplied many fold. New questions have arisen that cannot be solved under the present instrument and new conditions make it necessary for the people to assert rights they can not exercise thereunder. What is a government for if it is not to serve the purpose of the peo- ple? Thomas Jefferson believed so s' ongly that this was the object of government that h 2 maintained that a constitution should contain a pro- vision lor its revision every twenty years. There have been but few, if any, men in this state who excelled the late Governor Isaac P. Gray in ability accurately to interpret public sentiment. In his message to the legis- lature more than thirty years ago he strongly advocated the calling of a constitutional conveniion I have thus briefly stated the facts that I believe show the people wart a new' constitution, and personally 1 favor a constitutional convention. 1 recognize that it is the duty of legis lalors, before favoring such a conven tion, to consider the expense of the same from the standpoint of their con- stituents, and in view of the present financial condition of the state and ment. Impressed by the example thus set by the people, and revering constitutional provisions, 1 shall con- scientiously strive to confine my of- ficial acts to the executive sphere prescribed by the constitution, and steadfastly refrain from attempting coercive methods respecting the other branches of government Those called to official positions of grave responsibility cannot hope rightfully to respond to the demands of the public, if they close their eyes to the conditions of society and the spirit of the times. Indifferently, in- deed, has he lived who does not un- derstand that the people know their government is slipping away from them and that they are pleading for honest public servants. The newspaper and the magazine are abroad in the land. The Isaiahs of national progress are ciying unto the people to reclaim the government of their own making, and with hearts that shall not fail and with a courage that shall endure they will ultimately have their Runnymede We should not forget, however, that wild declamation disorganizes and fiustrates the plans of those working for the general good. Recognizing this truth the people are coming more and more to lay their heads together on matters- of public concern, with the view of being able to give help- ful advice to those in authority over them. Hence the official entreaty to the populace should be, “Come, let us reason together.” This was the con ception of law making the philoso- phical Burke had in mind w r hen he de- clared that “In all forms of govern- ments the people is the true legisla- tor.” In national as in state affairs they have solved intelligently every question they have had to con- sider. I sometimes think that men in public station do not always cor- rectly estimate the wisdom and the character of American citizenship. While our citizens are aggressive and at times seem to act hastily, they are nevertheless given to serious thought. This is true because the average American is capable of a high order of friendship and has the ability to acquire property. Love for man ana a desire for property suggest the ne- cessity lor law and order and so it is that the average American citizen stands for obedience to law. Unless the law is enforced con- stitutional guarantees become but the dreams of our fathers and the most sacred rights of citizenship have nothing secure upon which to rest. Before the law the rich and the poor, the capitalist and the laborer must stand upon an equality. As Gover- nor I shall have no favorites in the execution of the law, and let it now be understood that I shall hold that th-r mind, which devises a Rfhemo tv,or Senators, Representatives and Fel- low Citizens: The oath I have just taken binds me Most solemnly to the faithful dis- charge of high official duties. It pledges me to loyalty to the constitu- j of my state and to the constttu- 1 of my country, and imposes upon duties to the citizenship under both. The sincerity with which 1 have taken this obligation cannot now be known to those whom I am pledg- ed to serve. By my official conduct their confidence in me will either be strengthened or destroyed. I Intend it shall be strengthened. On the 13th day of January, 1873 — forty years ago this day — one of In- diana's most cultured gentlemen and ablest statesmen, Thomas A. Hen- dricks. was Inaugurated Governor of Indiana. In his inaugural address he said: "It is not expected of me upon this occasion to consider, with any degree of particularity, the subjects of leg islation that may occupy your atten- tion at the present session. That d'i'y has been discharged by my pre- decessor. But I cannot avoid a refer- ence to some subjects of special in- terest and importance.” As in the case of the predecessor of Governor Hendricks, my distin- guished predecessor, Governor Mar- shall. has complied with the provision of the Constitution requiring the Gov ernor to communicate with the Gener- al Assembly, and this renders it un- necessary that I should address a formal message to the legislature at this time. The reference I shall now make to any particular subject of leg- islation will be made not so much with a view of indicating the char acter of any law that shoudl be enact- ed as with a view of showing the di- rection I am now faciug and shall con- tinue to face during my administra- - tlon. I assume that the Democratic ma- jority of tile present legislature will abide by and promptly proceed to carry out the Jaat platform declara- tions made by Us party in this state. This will include an efficient primary election law and a general revision or tin- road laws. Not to carry out this platform would be a betrayal of the people's confidence. Numerous and serious questions licquently arise between public utili- ties companies and their customers, involving stances to a grei^tci public. These take the form | growing many in- extent the sometimes controversies .hods pursued Ub the rates chaigtl- kind of service laddered ondltlon has gij^n quite a general In dWTefnt sections of the stale iTif'K- pnbltciUUities commission Such a conSv-'lssun as is well know.i would lie vestVflVith authority over telephone compfMles, gas companies, dcctric light coi^unies, water com- panies, power o way revest themselves with author- ity to act. their conduct in this re- spect should afford a solemn admon- ition against the unsurpation of au- thority by any branch of the govern- ment. Impressed by the example thus set by the people, and revering constitutional provisions, I shall con- scientiously strive to confine my of- ficial acts to the executive sphere prescribed by the constitution, and steadfastly refrain from attempting coercive methods respecting the othor branches of government Those called to official positions of grave responsibility cannot hope rightfully to respond to the demands ot the public, if they close their eyes to the conditions of society and the spirit of the times. Indifferently, In- deed. has he lived who does not un- derstand that the people know their government is slipping away from them and that they are pleading for honest public servants. The newspaper and the magazine are abroad in the land. The Isaiahs of national progress ar.: ciying unto the people to reclaim the government of their owu making, and with hearts that shall not fail and with a courage that shall endure they will ultimately have their Runnymede We should not forget, however, tha^ wild declamation disorganizes and fiustrates the plans of those working for the general good. Recognizing this truth the people are coming more and more t p lay their heads together on matters of public— concern, with the view of being able to give help- ful advice to those in authority over them. Hence the official entreaty to the populace should be, "Come, let us reason together." This was the con ception of law making the philoso- phical Burke had in mind when he de- clared that "In all forms of govern- ments the people is the true legisla- In national as in state affairs they have solved intelligently every question they have had to con- sider. I sometimes think that men in public station do not always cor- rectly estimate the wisdom and the character of American citizenship. While our citizens are aggressive an«: at times seem to act hastily, they are nevertheless given to serious thought. This is true because the average American is capable of a high order of friendship and has the ability to acquire property. Love for man and a desire for property suggest the ne- cessity lor law and order and so it is that the average American citizen stands for obedience to law, Unless the law is enforced con- stitutional guarantees become but the dreams of our fathers and the most sacred rights of citizenship have nothing secure upon which to rest. Before the law the rich and the poor, the capitalist and the laborer must stand upon an equality. As Gover- nor I shall have no favorites in Mu- execution of the law, and let it now be understood that I shall hold that tile mind which devises .'I min-mr. ih-xi . I " ww offense m obedience to oral I B. A free government, resting upon the consent and having the love and support of all the people, should no*. b<- chargeable with class legislation This sort of legislation is the trail of The Beast through the people's law making body, and is the rankest sort of injustice 'to the masses. It repudiates the doctrine of equal and exact justice to all men. special priv- ilege to none, and eliminates the will of the people as a factor in the enact- ment of laws.. I believe in the ac- cumulation of property but the acqui- sition of riches by the special inter- ests, through the perversion of the functions of government, tends to divide the people Into classes and weakens their confidence In the gov- ernment. The supremacy of the peo- ple over combinations of all kinds Is the demand of the day and the polit- ical party now entrusted with power that does not meet this demand will be repudiated by the people at their first opportunity. I make no attack upon property. Property rights are shielded by con- stitutional guarantees and must be re- spected. Nor am I hostile to corpor a’ ions On the coutrary, I recognize their worth. The business or the coun- trv could not be carried on without them. But 1 insist that when they • laminate legislatures and control the people’s government in their own in- terest. they violate the law of their crention. become wrong dorrs against the public and should be dealt with accordingly. But corporations, like individuals, when they are arraigned tor wrong doing, either before the bar of public opinion or at the bar of justice, must be tried acordlng to the rules of justice. It may, there tore, be appropriately observed In this connection that the loudest de- nunciation does not necessarily Indi- cate the surest wav to the reform the people want, and that catch phrases often lead in the opposite direetlo i to real progress. Senators and representatives. 1 hope that when your legislative d-'- iles are concluded, you will have the satisfaction of knowing, you have, as law makers, met the reasonable ex- pectation of the people. To be con- f-lous of having served your sta'- to a noble purpose will strengthen you in your future work and comfort you when the shadows fall about you. Those representing the co-ordinate braches of government should sus- tain a relation of trust and confidence with one another, and 1 ask all with whom I shall be associated In an official way to aid me in giving the people a money-saving and a public serving administration.