St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-04-04
STONE is AGGRESSIVE
MISSOURI GOVERNOR AFTER
LOBBYISTS.
HECALLS AN EXTRA SESSION
OF the Legislature to Deal With
Many Frauds Which He
Enumerates.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo-, April 8.
Gov. Stone today issued a call for
special session of the state legis-
lature to meet on April % for the
purpose of defining the relations be-
tween railroads and employees and
liabilities Of each; to pass anti-lob-
Dying legislation; to enact new
elective franchise laws, etc:
In his call the governor SAYS:
For number of years the state
has been disgraced by an organized
and salaried lobby, maintained by
special interests at the capitol dur
ing the sessions of the general as
sembly for the purpose of influenc-
ing legislative action. Encouraged
by seeming lack of public senti-
ment on their presence and embold-
ened by repeated successes, these
lobbyists have from year to year
increased in numbers, influence and
audac1ty, until they have become
an almost dominating force in leg
lsiation. So confident have they
grown in their strength and so DO
tent In influence that they now ply
tnelf vocation almost without dis
guise in defiance of public authority
ana In utter contempt of public
opinion. 1t has come to pass that
almost every important measure of
legislation must undergo the scru-
tiny Of the lobby before its fate can
De determined. What it approves is
not without hope, but what it con-
dennis is lost
Perhaps the most consnicuous II
iustration of this disgraceful dom
nation is to be found in the treat
ment accorded the so-caIIed fellow
servants bill. 1 do not now discuss
the merits of the measure: I refer
only to the means adopted to sun
press and defeat it. A number of
senator's and representative as we'll
as many good citizens, who have
LETT appalled, at the overshadowine
lhhuence and Inundated at the fri
umph of the lobby, have pressed
on meth Importance of reconyening
the general assembly, to the end
lhat the issue may be fairly nra.
sented and an open test made &c ~
wne.ner a just legislative measure
''i9 character can be enacted
iito law in spite of the contanip-
a,lhg influence of those who onanI,,
BOAST their ability to direct the c,r.
rent or legislation. These are STRONG
words, L know, and / write tba,s,
win the greatest regret. But II is
clear to me that the time for ,,,;,a
piotest is past. We are confronted
Wy the question whether the peon,a
VI the lobby shall rule in Missouri
ne public safety and the honor of
.ue S'ate are at stake. Every sena-
'oi' member, public official and Gift
ecu familiar with the truth kro,,,,
that these words are iustifad w..
'nT situation at Jefferson CITY,"
Inc governor then mentions tba
necessity of passing new laws GOV
eihihg elections. On this suhioot
he says: SUBJECT
erdiiy, throughout this state T
am confident elections are cbsraotor
lzeo by the highest integrity. hnt m
.oftuhately, this is not trna -, -,
large cities. 1t is known that &C.
riauos nave been committed ;n e.
No'is ana Kansas City. The ind,oa
iiieht and opportunity for corr,,r,.
piactlces in large. populous munic-
ipaities are great, and exnerianca
proves that dishonest men of all mar
ties nave not been slow to lebanon H.
elective franchise. Not a few cons,,r,
mate and dastardly outrages have
peen perpetrated. Candor will cornaI
general admission that the disgraca
OF election frauds is fairly divided he
tween the adherents of the differant
pohtlcal organizations. The truth NJ
TINS statement is made evident bv the
lact that both Republicans and Demo
Gratis. so-called. have been recently in
oicted In st. Louis and Kansas Citv
LOT active participation in such frauds
When such wrongs are not only nos
sioie' put are actually and boldly com
mltted, 1t is evident that the public
sa1ety imperatively requires sucb
changes in the law as will not ONLY
terminate existing abuses, but prevent
thelr repetition in the future"