Editor, Times-Union: I didn’t get a chance to hear Governor Daniels’ state of Indiana speech this week because I was on my way back from Indianapolis, after spending the day trying to undo the damage I had done by voting for the man. I did, however, catch his cute little story about dueling lawmakers on the radio.
Well, Governor, I, too, know a little history, so let me offer our fellow citizens more history.
After Lincoln freed the slaves in 1862, public outrage ushered in a tide of new Democratic lawmakers. The popular idea was that Indiana would bring her troops home and withdrawal from the war to become neutral.
Here is a quote from “Battle Cry of Freedom” by James McPherson: “Indiana’s iron-willed Oliver P. Morton simply persuaded Republican legislators to absent themselves, thereby forcing the legislature into adjournment for lack of a quorum. For the next two years Morton ran the state without a legislature ... .”
Let me paraphrase my favorite Bible verse, “There is nothing new under the sun.”
I urge my neighbors not to fault the minority for what they did and take a pro “right to work” stance, out of simple spite. We used a tool that was available to us, to buy time. We want to educate people who simply do not know about the issue.
Please, if you do not understand the issue, ask both union members and Chamber of Commerce members. There will be a town hall forum meeting Sunday at 1 p.m. It will be held at the Ramada in Warsaw. Get both sides of the story and make an informed decision. Hurry though because you only have until next Tuesday.
Darren Bettinger Local 809 Winona Lake, via e-mail
