[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 103 (Thursday, June 22, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1312]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HONORABLE MATHEW E. WELSH, FORMER GOVERNOR OF 
                                INDIANA

                                 ______


                        HON. ANDREW JACOBS, JR.

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 22, 1995
  Mr. JACOBS. Mr. Speaker, former Governor, Matthew E. Welsh, was 
nothing less than a noble legend in Indiana and to a considerable 
extent our entire nation.
  He was a giant among Hoosiers. We lost him on May 28, 1995.
  He was a man of extraordinary scholarship and civility, quite 
literally a scholar and a gentleman.
  The following tributes were editorials in both the Indianapolis Star 
and the Indianapolis News:
               [From the Indianapolis Star, May 31, 1995]

                            Matthew E. Welsh

       As Indiana's 41st governor from 1961 to 1965, Matthew E. 
     Welsh was one of the state's busiest and most productive 
     public servants.
       In public life for half a century, as an attorney and 
     Democratic elected official, he was respected by members of 
     both parties.
       In his first year as governor, he gave 260 speeches, 
     traveled 27,000 miles by car and plane, and visited 13 states 
     and 42 Indiana counties.
       Major accomplishments of his administration were creation 
     of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, which investigates 
     complaints of discrimination; formation of the Department of 
     Administration; and improving the general quality of state 
     government by extending the merit system.
       As Gov. Evan Bayh said, he led the state at a time of great 
     growth and presided over the building of the state's 
     interstate highway system, construction of flood-control 
     reservoirs, improvement in the mental health system and the 
     first land acquisition plan for public recreation since the 
     1920s.
       Welsh took pride in biting the bullet in proposing 
     Indiana's first sales tax. But much of the public expressed 
     pain and resentment when the 2 percent bite was enacted in 
     1963.
       Forming Indiana Citizens Against Legalized Gambling, 
     working to improve mental health treatment facilities, 
     serving on a task force on property tax control and the 
     Mayor's Intergovernmental Relations Task Force, serving on 
     the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee and heading its 
     task force on poor relief were but a few of his many 
     contributions to city, state and national life.
       Always a modest and able leader, a perfect gentleman, 
     gracious, with a sparkling sense of humor, Matt Welsh won 
     many honors, made many friends and had many admirers during a 
     productive public life. His death at 82 takes an honorable, 
     respected and charming public servant from the Indiana scene.
                                                                    ____

               [From the Indianapolis News, May 30, 1995]

                            Matthew E. Welsh

       Matthew E. Welsh, Indiana's 41st governor and one of the 
     most decent and able men ever to serve in Indiana politics, 
     passed away over the weekend.
       Welsh, a lawyer and former state legislator, first 
     attempted to capture the governor's seat in 1956, losing the 
     Democratic nomination to Ralph Tucker. Many considered that 
     loss a blessing in disguise for Welsh, believing that the 
     election of Republican Harold Handley was inevitable.
       Four years later, Welsh got his party's nomination and, 
     with some help from a strong presidential run by John 
     Kennedy, won with a 23,177-vote victory over former Lt. Gov. 
     Crawford Parker.
       A moderate Democrat, Welsh was credited with boosting merit 
     employment in state government, creating the Indiana Civil 
     Rights Commission, pushing school consolidation and presiding 
     over construction of the interstate highway commission. He 
     has also been credited with, or blamed for, imposing the 
     state sales tax.
       Strongly believing in the necessity for overhauling the 
     state's revenue system, including the imposition of the sales 
     tax. Welsh had to battle a Republican-controlled Indiana 
     General Assembly to get the job done.
       The Indiana Constitution prevented him from seeking another 
     consecutive term. In 1972, however, he ran for governor 
     again.
       Scars from that sales tax battle, coupled with having weak 
     presidential coattails from Democratic presidential nominee 
     George McGovern and a strong Republican opponent, Otis Bowen, 
     led to Welsh's defeat the second time he sought the 
     governor's office. With Welsh and Bowen running for the 
     office, however, it was a race Hoosier voters could not lose.
       ``There was no one in government or politics I respected 
     more,'' said Bowen of his former opponent. ``Matt Welsh was a 
     most honorable and dedicated public servant. Indiana is 
     better off for his having been governor.''
       Losing the 1972 election did not end Welsh's public service 
     or his contributions to Indiana.
       He served on numerous boards, commissions and agencies for 
     both the city of Indianapolis and the state. Welsh was 
     particularly instrumental in working for the improvement of 
     mental health facilities and treatment in Indiana. He also 
     joined other political, educational, religious and civic 
     leaders in lobbying against legalized gambling in the state.
       Furthermore, he maintained an active involvement in the 
     Democratic Party and served as an advisor to many Hoosier 
     politicians, including former Indiana Sen. Birch Bayh.
       ``Governor Welsh was a great man,'' said Gov. Evan Bayh, 
     who also received considerable help and advice from Welsh. 
     ``He was greatly loved by all Democrats and admired and 
     respected by Democrats and Republicans alike.''
       He will be sorely missed by Hoosiers of all political 
     persuasions who benefited from his leadership.
     

                          ____________________