The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-04-13


Stone to-day issued proclamation call
ing an extra session of the legislature
April %. The following is the entire
document:
PROCLAMATION.
For q number OF years the state has beendis-
graced by an organized and saf1ried lobby,
maintained by special interests at the capital
during the sessions Of the general assembly
for the purpose Of influencing legislative
action. Encouraged by q seeming lack OF pub
lie resentment at their presence, and embold-
ened by repeated successes, these lobbyists
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
ply their vocation almost without
disguise in defiance Of public au-
thority and in utter contempt of pub
lie opinion II 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
not without hope, but what it condemns is lost.
FELLow-sERvANT BILL
Perhaps the most conspicuous illustration OF
this disgraceful domination is TO be found in the
treatment accorded the So-caIled fellow-Serv-
ants bill. do not now discuss the merits of
the measure, l refer only TO the means adopted
: ~ SlppLGSS anu Ot-CdIA I. IHOSC tdl4 Adfo
been SO generally discussed in the press
OF the state, and the people have
thus become SO familiar with them,
that l deem 1t unnecessary to re-
state them in detail. \ number of senators
and representatives, as well as many good
citizens, VINO have felt appalled, at the over
ShadOwing 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 an open test made as to
whether Il 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, 1
know, and l write them with the keeuest 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 1T stake.
Every senator, member, public official and cit
izen familiar with the truth knows that these
words are justified by the situation at Jefer-
son City.
l believe that the condition OF affairs to
which L 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
nave 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 4 regular session, and thus every SEN
ator and representative can be afforded I'M
hanlpered opportunity to discharge his duty to
his constituency with the greatest elaboration
and intelligence.
ELECTION REFORM.
But there is also another question of the most
commanding Importance, the proper settle
ment of which should not he delayed. 1 refer
to the laws governing elections in st. Louis and
Kansas City. In the preservation of 4 free rep |
reSentative government nothing is so impor- |
tant as the purity Of elections. Generally
throughout this state l am confident
elections are characterized by highest
integrity; but, unfortunately, this is
not true in the large cities. 1t is
known that gross frauds have been committed
in these cities. TIL inducenent and OppOr- !
tunity for corrupt practices in large, pOpulous
municipalities are great, and experience proves |
that dishonest men Of all parties have not been
SLOW to deoauch the elective franchise. Not a
few cOaSummate and daStardIy Outrages have
been pcrpetrated. CandOr will compel a 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 as many
voters registered as there are adult males re-
siding therein. This boss" is 4 noted repub-
lican politician. In the same city it Is well
known that election returns have been fraudu-
leEtly changed in the Office of the recorder Of
voters SO Is TO 2l,er the result ct the polls as
certified by the judges OF election. The officer
under whose administration this crime was
sperpetrated Was Il democrat. When such
wrongs are not only possible. but are actually
and boldly committed, 1t 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 a 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-
fleet that about one-fourth of the total popula-
tiCn Of the state reside in st. Louis and Kan
Sas City, and consider the tremendous infu-
ence which those cities can exert in the cleo
tiOn 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 vigil
lantly guarding the ballot-box against every
desert on of fraud and crime.
TheI, re, in view of the premises, and by
virtue of authority in me vested by the consti-
tuition Of the state OF Missouri, l, William j.
Stone, governor Of the state OF Missouri, do
hereby convene the thirty-elghth general as
Of the state OF Missouri in extra ses-
sion, and l do hereby call upon the senators
and representatives in the general assembly
aforesaid 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:
F1rSt-To enact such legislation as NAV be
necessary and expedient 10 properly define the
relations between the different classes of en-
plUyeS OF railroad corporations in this state,
ana also the proper relations between all such
employees and the railroad corporations en-
liability between the different employees them
selves. and also between such employees aud
the said railroad corporations. for Injuries
done or received by one such employe as the
result of the cuipable negligence OF another
bIch emp!oye while engaged in the service OF
such corporations.
Second-To provide such legislative enact
mentS as may be necessary and expedieut to
prevent the maintenance OF an organized lobby
at the capital Of the state. either to obstructor
promote any legislative or executive act; and
also TO regulate the manner OF presenting any
affecting legislation by persons inter-
ested therein before the general assembly or
any committee thereof.
Vhfri To moot SuoA L. --