Mexico weekly ledger., 1892-03-03
ests of farmer,

~sellvllle, in Logan county, until his
eighth year, when they came to
Missouri. His grandfather was
John Breathitt, one of the most
distinguished Governors of Ken
lucky.
Mr.. Breathitt is essentially Il self
made man. Lack of wealth made
him depend upon himself, and he
owes all he has and is to his own
efforts. He obtained his education
in the common schools and before
he was grown enlisted in the Con-
federate army as a private under
Gen. Forrest, and served with dis
tinction on all occasions. At the
end of the war he returned to Sa-
line, and after a few years studied
law, and was admitted to practice
in 1874. Two years later he was
elected Prosecuting Attorney of Sa-
line county, and in 1886 was elect
ed Railroad Commissioner, and
there being an absolute necessity on
this Board for at least one of its
members to be thoroughly acquaint-
ed with the law, Mr.. Breathitt's ac-
cession to the Board added greatly
to its efficiency.
Mr.. Breathitt's term of office ex-
pires with the year 1892, and he is
a candidate for reelection. AS this is
one of the State offices in which the
interests of the farmers are directly
concerned, and which, if its mem
bers were inefficient, inexper-
fenced of even careless of those
interests might be used greatly to
their injury. 1t is the purpose of
this paper to use its best efforts to
secure the election OF a man who
has shown his honesty and faithful
ness in serving the best interests Of
the people, and who has shown, by
his administration of the affairs of
his office, that he regards "a public
office as a public trust"
1t is pertinent to remark in this
connection that if the editor of this
paper was actuated by the motives
that control many men, he would
oppose the election of Mr.. Breathitt.
1t is well known to many readers OF
this paper that but for the opposing
vote of Mr.. Breathitt, the editor Of
this paper would now be the incum-
bent of the honorable and lucrative
office of Chief Grain Inspector. The
very fact that Commissioner Breath
lit gave his vote to the contrary en-
titles him to our support. A great
many thousands of the farmers of
Missouri during the last year urged
the selection of Geo. B. Morton as
Grain Inspector. Feeling
by their request, Commits
sioneer Hickman gave him his vote.
Chairman Breathitt said that if Mr..
Morton could comply with the terms
of the law and show that he was a
grain expert, he would feel it his
duty to vote for him; but if he was
not a grain expert, as the statute re-
quired, he would be obliged to dis
the wishes of the people as
well as his own inclinations, and
give his vote for a man who filled
the requirements of the law.
Having always held that fitness
for official positions was the very
first requirement, and knowing that
he fell short of the requirements of
the law, Mr.. Morton acknowledged
the Justice of Mr.. Bleathitt's state
ment and withdrew his claims.
1t is not often that men on the
eve of an election in which they are
candidates have the courage to stand
square on the line of law and duty
in defiance OF what is likely to ser
affect their own interests.
Mr.. Breat3litt has done
this, he has merited not the hostility
but the support of this paper and its
more than 0,000 readers. We be-
therefore, that aside from the
necessity of having a man with a
knowledge of law and experience in
its practice on the Board, and one
whose experience i'll the position
has made his services most valuable,
the actions of Mr.. B-eathitt in the
matter referred to eniitie him to the
support of the very people whose
he disregarded.
Wm.A. Morris has on hand a full
line of bicycles of the best manufac-l
turers makes. If you do not care
&, r,as, aasb Mr. M.-.s nr;t1 safl cr