The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-04-11

sembly to convene on Tuesday, A pri
28, 1896;
For number Of years the state ha
been disgraced by an organization
and salaried lobby, maintained BY
special interests at the capital during
the sessions Of the general assembly
for the purpose Of influencing legis
lative action. Encouraged by q
seeming lack of public resentment al
their presence, and emboldened 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 authority and in utter con-
tempt of public opinion. 1t has come
to pass that almost every important
measure of legislation must undergo
the scrutiny OF the lobby before It's
fate can be determined. What it
approves is not without hope, but
what it condemns is lost.
Perhaps the most conspicuous
illustration of this disgraceful domin-
alton is to be found in the treatment
accorded the 80 called 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 80 generally discussed in the
press of the state, and the people
have thus become so familiar with
them, that deem it unnecessary to
restate them in detail. A number of
senators and representatives., as well
as many good citizens, who have felt
appalled, at the overshadowing
influence, and humiliated at the tri-
umph of the lobby, have pressed
upon me the Importance of recon-
vening the general assembly to the
end that the issue may be fairly pre-
sented and an open test made as to
whether a 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 regret. 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 citizen familiar
with the truth knows that these
words are justified by the situation at
Jefferson City.
believe that the condition Of af-
fairs to which l have adverted is
alone sufficient to make it my i'm
perative duty to recall the senators
and representatives elected by the
people in special session TO consider
the particular important subject of
legislation to which l have referred,
which has been 80 long delayed and
80 often defeated by influences dan
gerous to the public rights. In this
way it can be considered free from
the multitude of other perplexing
questions incident to regular ses-
sion, and thus every senator and
representative can be afforded un-
hampered opportunity to discharge
his duty to his constituency with the
greatest deliberation and intelligence.
But there is also another question
of the most commanding Importance,
the proper settlement OF which
should not be delayed. refer to
the laws governing elections in St.
Louis and Kan3as City. In the pre-
servation of q free representative
government nothing is 30 importan,
as the purity OF elections. Generally
throughout this state ! am confident
elections are characterized by high
est integrity; but, unfortunately
this is not true in the large cities
1t Is known that gross frauds have
been committed in these cities. The
inducement and opportunity for cor
rupt practices in large, populoul
municipalities are great, and expert
ence proves that dishonest men o
all parties have not been slow Il
debauch the elective franchise. No
few consummate and dastardl.
outrages have been perpetrated
Candor will compel a general admis
sion that the disgrace OF election
frauds is fairly divided between tn
adherents of the different politics
organizations.
The truth OF this statement is mad
evident by the fact that both repub
licans and democrats, 80 called, hav
been recently Indicted in st. Loui
and Kansas City for active participa
tion in such frauds. In one of tn
wards in Kansas City, which has
s'boss'' so conspicuous and potter
that the ward 10 currently referre
to as his. ward, there are twice Q
many voters registered as there ar
adult males residing therein. Tn