The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1895-04-06
THE EXTRA SESSION.

Il IA 1Oh
Governor Stone, on Wednesday last,
issued a proclamation %convening an
extraordinary session of the state leg
islature. The document, itself, is
vigorous, manly and able, and has
attracted the attention of the people OF
the entire state. Its striking charac-
teristics are impartiality, truth--tullness
and emphasis, and 1t mirrors the firm
and courageous character of the man
from whom it animated.
William j. Stone is human, and with
some of his fellow men has fallen heir
to some of the frailties of human
nature. He is sometimes in error, but
always honest; he has his faults, but
no man who has eve graced the
executive chair has ever had superior
honesty or been more faithful to a
public trust. With the firmness OF a
man, he rises above partisan influences
in his dealings with the people and
pays homage to no click or clan. His
will power is indomitable, as if it were
a prototype OF old Andrew Jackson's.
Generally he Is remarkably wise and
politically, remarkably acute.
We would not say that he is as great
as Jackson or as wise as Jefferson or
as shrewd as Whitney, but were we to
describe his character, W. would say
that in him were combined many of
the striking virtues of them all.
The INTELLIGENCER says amen to
the greater part of his recent precla-
nation. In his endeavor to MAIN,
cripple and kill the disrepntable or
ganized salaried lobby, he has our
most hearty endorsement. Whether or
not the lobbyist can he eradicated by
Legislative enactment, is n question,
but II he can, then a devoted people
pray for a statute ending his mission
for all time.
The place to kill the lobbyist is at
the ballot box. The professional lob
byist will not hurt Missouri if honest
men are sent to Jefferson City. But if
it is true, that an organized salaried
lobby controlled the last session of the
legislature, we see no reason to sup
pose hat it will not control the coming
one, as it will be composed of the same
statesmen.
Likewise we agree with the governor
that q we'll defined fellow-servant bill
should be passed. The relation between
the different railroad employees and
between employee and employer
should be we'll defined, and the liability
as between the employees fixed by law.
That Kansas City and st. Louis need
an honest election law, no one will
doubt. Though few convictions have
been found against fraudulent voters
In these two cities, the papers in both
are either miserably mistaken or else
the laws are defective, or lastly, they
are not intorced.
Admitting the good that would come
from the determination of the lobbyist;
from the enactment and enforcement Of
good fellow-servant and election bills,
and granting that these three questions
need attention, the INTELLIGENCER
seriously doubts the wisdom of the
extra session.
The same men have met under like
circumstances. They have repudiated
the people in the interest of the lobby,
corporation, and the ward politicians.
There being no better way to judge the
future than by the past, we can enter
tain but little hopes of legislation
which is 70 greatly needed and SO ably
championed by Missouri's executive.
On the 23rd day of this month the
solOns will have another chance to
demonstrate their unftness to legislate
Tut NAlSsOuTis anu tudt 10 uooul All,
beside the expenses attached that the
people will get out of it.
Boss Filley controls the house and
the lobby, of course. controls Boss
Billey. The republicans have about
fourteen votes In the senate which are
banefully under the influence of the st.
Louis politician; add to this fourteen
enough of democratic senators that
feed on champagne at the expense of
the lobby and vote at the expense of
the people, and you have a majority in
both houses Of our legislature that
made, ut least in the last session, hon
est laws almost impossible. However,
the governor, bold, honest and aggres-
sive, has seen fit to call the solons
together for q new trial. lie has done
all in his power in giving the people
another hearing and we a but hope,
though hope seems in vain, that II
miraculous change has come over the
minds Of the Legislators since last they
met.
Possibly some reader of the INTELLI-
nENCuD NAV thipl, ma h.va oaii ANNA