Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-01-10

in ordnance stores, quart-rmasuers stores and
equipments.
THE LIQUOR QUESTION
The question of how to prohibit the sale and
smallest possible compass has rec lived the
careful consideration of former Legislatures,
and will, doubtless, be urged for your consider
alton during the present session. No question
that has agitated the public mind in the past
fifty years has received more attention than
this, and the results have been various and for
the most part unsatisfactory. AS much as it
| may be desired, no State has yet solved the
| question OF how absolute prohibition can be
successfully maintained.
| l firmly believe the influence of the dram
| shop is demoralizing 10 the community in
which it is located and should be reduced TO
| the lowest possible limit. Some communities
are opposed to prohibition or high license. and
only collect the minimum State. county and
municipal tax or licenses In such places sa-
! looms more numerous and not as respecta-
bic as where high license prevails Yet it is
! question II the present law can be changed to
secure better results for the reason that if such
! communities could enforce higher license they
| can make ii higher under the present law.
ELECTORAL CORRUPTION.
A more important subject than the purifca-
ton of elections can not be considered by the
Legislature of democratic commonwealth.
and when complaints of electoral corruption
are so general and earnest throughout the
country as at the present time it is impera-
tive duty TO inquire whether the alleged abuses
exist in our own State, and il they do to sup
| press them. Should confidence in the integ-
rity of the ballot be lost republican institutions
"A
danger SO vital to our system OF government is
| to be guarded against with utmost Wig lance.
The remedy IS preventive legislation. rather
than penal, and consists in reform alton of the
mole of conducting elections. By enforcing
absolute secresy of the ballot intimidation and
bribery may be prevented When citizens
required TO vote in such manner to be
! Sured that the way in which they vote not
| be known to any but themselves the tirid no
! longer fear and the venal will not be trusted.
| This is demonstrated as well by experience as
| by reason.
| adopted what is known as the australian sys-
! tenn" of voting. Under this system.
owing to the perfection of its secresy,
| bribery at the polls has Sappeared, and for
| the same reason intimidation has far ceased
to be factor in Irish elections that the repre-
sentatives of the landlord class who formerly
sat IN Parliament from ireland have given
| place to Parnell and his followers.
| 1t does not follow that contributions for party
| purposes would not be made, but the cOntribu-
| tons would be voluntary and could be applied
wholly to the legitimate purposes OF political t;
| sentiment. The subject is recommended &c
| your careful consideration.
GRAIN INSPECTION.
The progress and growth OF our common
wealth depend largely on the prosperity of the
| industrial and wealth producing elements of
| our population. Every citizen of the State has
| right to equal protection before the law.
| Former Legislatures have wisely enacted laws
for the protection of the interests of the wage
earning portion of our population, but slngularly
enough that portion OF our wealth-prouucers
| engaged in agricultural pursuits. and who
| produce nlne-tenthS OF the wealth and pros
peritv enjoyed by our people, have received lit
! tie or no consideration at the hands of our Leg
| isiatures The products of the farm are the
| prey of the most grasping and dOmineering
trusts, syndicates and combinations in the coun-
| try and the cereal products are often bought
| and sold many times by the non-producers and
manlpulatOrS of prices before they are gar
nered by the farmer.
| Several of our great agricultural States. Hi
| nois. Iowa. Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Ter
ritory of Dakota, have enacted just and whole
| some laws for regulating the handling. storing
| The State of Illinois empowers the Railroad
| Commiss' oners to regulate their warehouse
| system. The Governor appoints one inspector
and 7 direction IL of the Board Of Commis-
| s:oners OF Railroads and Warehouses;
| This system must be adopted without
! increasing the number OF Offices, except
! inspector. or expense 10 the taxpayer The in
| spector appointed by the Governor as now
| seller which in St. Louis at present is said to
| amount to over s30,olo per annum.
| The tobacco-raisers of the State have this or
similar protection. and the grain-groWers. whose
interests are much greater, are entitled to your
| earnest and careful consideration.
OPTION DEALING.
| Another matter IN this connection to which
desire to call your attention is the fact that the
! surplus cereals of Missouri farmers, after they
| they have control. is again subject to fcti
| tious valuation or price not entirely governed
| by the laws of supply and demand
The Thirty-fourth General Assembly, by an
| act approved March l9, lss', prohibited option
| dealing in every place in the State except in a
| duly incorporated merchants exchange. II ii
is to the interest of the agriculturalists of this
State to have fiuctuating prices on the product
! of the farm merchant exchanges should not
| nave monopoly in this business 1t is no ar
gument to say the same business will be car
red on by other States if prohibited here. We
| should do our duty to our own people.
1t is not possible in the necessarily brief char
! acter of Il message dealing with the various top
| les TO which have thought proper to call your
| attention to give more than passing review
! of the reasons and arguments which seemed to
me in favor of legislative action this subject,
| or to recommend in detail measure which will
| cure all of the existing evils. The agricultural
| interests depressed They ask at your
| hands such relief as will give them equal pro-
lection with other labor industries of the State
/ CONCLUSION.
! In submitting for your consideration the fore
going communication 1 have but briefly re-
! ferred to those matters and subjects which the
/ law and my best judgment seemed to indicate
/ my duty. Your good Judgment and intel
llgence must determine your action in regard
/ to such recomm endations as 1 have deemed
proper to make
Believing that as servants Of the people you
] will discharge your duties faithfully and con.
scientouSly. leave the matter with you.
ALBERT p. MOREHOuSE