Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-04-11
AN EXTRA SESSION
OF the Legislature to Convene
April %.

Gov. stones Proclamation. Wherein He
Sets Forth the Reasons for the Cali
and the Measures Demand
ing Attention.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo-, April 3.-Gov.
Stone to-day issued a proclamation call
ing an extra session of the legislature
April %. TIE following is the entire
document:
PROCLAMATION.
For number of years the state has been dis
graced by an organized and salaried lobby.
maintained by special interests at the capital
during the sessions OF the general assembly
for the purpose OF Influencing legislative
action. Encouraged by a seeming lack OF pub
lie resentment at their presence. and embold-
ened by repeated successes, these lobby lists
have from year to year increased in numbers,
influence and audacity, until they have become
an almost dominating force in legislation. So
confident have they grown in their strength.
and SO potent in influence, that they now
disguise in defiance of public au-
thority and in utter contempt of pub
lie opinion. 1t has come to pass that almost
every important measure OF legislation must
undergo the scrutiny .of the lobby before its
fate can be determined What it approves is
FELLow-sERvANT BILL
Perhaps the most conspicuous illustration Of
this disgraceful domination is to be found in the
treatment accorded the so-caiied fellow-serv-
ants bill do not now discuss the merits of
the measure. I refer only to the means adopted
TO suppress and defeat it. Those means have
been SO generally discussed in the press
of the state, and the people have
thus become SO familiar with them,
that / deem it unnecessary to re-
state them in detail. A number Of senators
and representatives, as well as many good
Swallowing influence, and Inundated at the
triumph of the lobby. have pressed upon me
the importance of reconvening the general
assembly to the end that the issue may be
fairly presented and open test made as to
whether just legislative measure of this
character can be enacted into law in spite of
the communicating influence Of those who
openly boast their ability to direct the current
OF legislation These are strong words.
know, and write them with the keenest re-
greet. But it is clear to me that the time for
mild protest is past We are confronted by
the question, whether the people or the
lobby shall rule in Missouri. The public
safety and the honor Of the state are at stake.
Every senator, member, public official and cit
izen familiar with the truth knows that these
words are justified by the situation at Jeffer-
SON City.
which 1 have adverted is alone sufficient to
make it my imperative duty to recall the sena-
tors and representatives. elected by the people
in special session to consider the particular
important subject OF legislation to which I
have referred, which has been SO long delayed
and SO often defeated by influences dam
gerous to the public right. In this way
it can be considered free from the null
titude of other perplexing questions in
cident to regular session, and thus every SEN
ator and representative can be afforded un-
hampered opportunity to discharge his duty to
his constituency with the greatest deliberation
and intelligence.
ELECTION REFORM.
But there is also another question of the most
commanding importance, the proper settle
ment Of which should not be delayed. I refer
to the laws governing elections in St. Louis and
resentative government nothing is SO impor-
tant as the purity OF elections. Generally
throughout this state I am confident
elections are characterized by highest
integrity; but, unfortunately, this is
not true lin the large cities. It is
known that gross frauds have been committed
in these cities The inducement and oppor
tunity for corrupt practices in large, populous
are great, and experience proves
that dishonest men Of all parties have not been
SLOW to debauch the elective franchise. Not
few consummate and dastardIy outrages have
been perpetrated. Candor will compel gen.
eral admission that the disgrace Of election
frauds is fairly divided between the adherents
of the different political organizations The
truth OF this statement is made evident by the
fact that both republicans and democrats,
so called, have been recently indicted in St.
Louis and Kansas City for active participa-
tion in such frauds. In one of the wards in
Kansas City. which has boss SO conspicu-
GUS and potent that the ward is currently re-
ferred to as his ward, there are twice many
rapiSforpd a c arpo dT11f 1oS
siding therein. This boss is a noted repub-
lican politician. In the same city it is well
known that election returns have been fraudu-
lently changed in the Office Of the recorder OF
voters so as to alter the result at the polls as
certified by the judges of election. The officer
under whose administration this crime was
perpetrated was democrat When such
wrongs are not only possible, but are actually
and boldly committed, it is evident that the
public safety imperatively requires such
changes in the law as will not only terminate
existing abuses but prevent their repetition in
future.
This is question which affects the rights
and interests OF the people of the entire state
almost as vitality as it does the people Of the
cities Immediately concerned. When we re-
feet that about one-fourth Of the total popula-
ton of the state reside in St. Louis and Kan
sas City, and consider the tremendous inf1u-
ence which those cities can exert in the cleo
ton OF national and state officials, and on the
legislative policies of the state, no thoughtful
Or patriotic citizen can be oblivious or indif-
ferent to the paramount importance Of vigi-
Iantly guarding the ballot-box against every
description Of fraud and crime.
Therefore, in view of the premises, and by
virtue of authority in me vested by the consti-
tuition of the state of Missouri, I, William J.
Stone, governor OF the state of Missouri, do
hereby convene the thirty-eighth general as
sembly OF the state OF Missouri in extra ses-
sion, and do hereby call upon the senators
and representatives. in the general assembly
to meet in their respective places in
the capitol in the city Of Jefferson, at the hour
Of IL o'clock noon on Tuesday, the 23d DAY OF
April, A. D. 1895. for the following purposes:
First-To enact such legislation as may be
and expedient to properly define the
relations between the different classes of en-
ployes Of railroad corporations in this state,
and also the proper relations between all such
employees and the railroad corporations en-
ploying them and to define and fix the legal
selves, and also between such employees and
the said railroad corporations. for injuries
lone or received by oDe such employe as the
such employe while engaged in the service of
such corporations.
Second-To provide sueh legislative enact
nents as may be necessary and expedient to
prevent the maintenance Of an organized lobby
1t the capital of the state either to obstruct or
promote any legislative or executive act; and
slso to regulate the manner Of preser ling any
question affecting legislation by persons inter-
ested therein before the general assembly or
any committee thereof.
Third-TO enact such laws as NAV be neces.
'ary and expedient to prevent fraud against
he elective franchise and to secure honest
elections In all cities having 10000 inhabf-
ants.
Fourth-To consider any other subject that
nay be submitted by special message during
laid extra session.
Fifth-To make an appropriation for the ex-
1enses OF this extra session of the general as
;embIy.
In testimony whereof. have ncre.n.o set my
,and and caused to be affixed the great seal OF
he State Of Missouri
Done at The City Of Jefferson, this third day