Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-09-10
tiou imposes upon ne.

SE\W II
Lon p Stephens
All my life have been a worker and writer
| for the public and have been too much engaged
| along business lines to acquire the graces OF
orGtory: you must expect. therefore, nothing
/ Of eloquence or oratory from me, but few
| plain words from plain man.
! My friends. am not vain enough to consider
| for one moment that any nomination is alto
| gether personal triumph but the triumph Of
grand and mighty principle. for which. you
| know. have long, honestly and earnestly con-
| tended
| 1 take particular and special interest in
grand old Missouri; IL is a wonderful state: in
| natural resources 1t has been blessed above all
| others; it seems as if the Creator has made it
shine as the central star in the glorious galaxy
Of the American Union.
love all the states OF our grand old republic.
but above them all 1 love Missouri. I love all
the cities and counties Of this grand old state,
but above them all 1 love this old vine-cIad
city and Cooper county.
Here my parents were born. lived long ard
useful lives, and in its soil they are sleeping
to-day.
wing its fight to some far distant world,
here my body shall rest in Walnut Grove.
alongside my kindred and friends who have
gone before.
Here married a. Missouri girl, likewise to
the manner born.
Here we have lived all the days of our lives;
no other home roof ever sheltered our heads
outside the broad domain of this dear old state;
no wonder then love Missouri; because it is
nv native land.
ored beyond my deserts to be its chief execu-
tive, one of the noblest and Hottest aspirations
Of a Missouri boy.
Perhaps it would not be inappropriate for
me at this time, standing as 1 am in the pres
ence of those who have known me from my
childhood. to refer briefly to some of the as
saults that have been made upon me since
have been mentioned as candidate for the
goyernorship.
Enemies, personal and political, have at
tempted to rob me of my name: they have been
successful in often embarrassing me I must
confess: but, feliow-citiZens, my life Is an open
book before you: enemies may say what they
please, but you know how much is true or
false: you know that have never intentionally
wronged single man or woman, living or dead;
you know my Gntecedents, and you know there
are no skeletons in my closet, or in the closet
of any of my family, and the man does not live
Who can put one there, either.
THE PROHIBITION "sCRAP BOOK
When I joined hands with the late Judge
Draffen and others, away back in the '70'S to
help rid our beautiful little city Of some in
famous dives and joints, in which had also
the sympathy of our most prominent and law
respecting liquor men, gentleman in this city
who keeps scrap book sat back and with
ghOulish glee looked on and said: "Ah some
day will get even with this crowd well. he
did; he drew upon his scrap-bOok-you know
the result.
This is as near as I have ever been to beinga
prohibitionist.
In fifteen years I have not drank over a
Boonville bar, yet in the saloon-keepers of this
city have some of my warmest friends. many
Of whom have shown their interest in me by
voluntarily signing my official bond, and are
to-day enthusiastically supporting me-
They know / am not now a prohibitionist,
and never was, practically or theoretically.
The prohibition letter brought out for ser
vice, purported to have been written by me to
Rev. Mr.. Deering. is fake pure and simple
Bradshaw, in whose paper they say 1t was pub
ished. says he never published it.
That same gentleman about four years ago
published to the world that Senator George q
Vest and myself were ut dagger's point; that 1
had written him an insulting letter IN 1852 on
the subject of the national bank system.
had this report to fight when a candidate for
state treasurer. had it to fight when candi-
date for the goyernOrship, and have it to fight
to-day; and when 1 knock at the pearly gates
suppose Ill have to confront this helpless and
frlendless memento OF my youthful vanity.
Senator Vest is present with US to-day, and
he will say to you that there never has been
time since 1 was honored by being named after
him that our relations were anyth ng but
cordial confidential and pleasant; have al
ways felt, anG feel now. that he loves me and
takes almost as much interest in ne as he does
in his own sons, George and Alex. with whom
many years OF my boyhood days were spent at
the Kemper family school in this city and else
where.
In 1882. with the light had. I favored the ma
tionGl bank system; in the fifteen years which
have interviewed l have learned something's,
and now oppose the system and stand on the
democratic platform with reference 10 this ana
other issues.
1 have wanted the stockholders OF our little
bank here tn abandon the national system, but
for ten years / have not attended meeting OF
the banks board am not an active ofneer OF
the bank, and my suggestions have not been
acted upon.
1t is true 1 did not ask Mr. Vest to help Sc
cure me this nomination. but felt and knew
he would not shed q tear il were nominated
/ didn't go to him, Senator Cockrell, Gov.
Stone or TO any other political leader IN ONCE
for help; went to the people, the masses: my
theirs.
Other stories about my being rude to a lady
have been circulated, unworthy Of notice oy
me; she has been the guest in our home many
times since the alleged rudeness. and her
father is one of my best friends: before leaving
home he spent half hour In my ONCE as
sured me OF his high regard and personal inter
terest in my happiness and success
COOPER CoUNTY's FINANCES.
When financial agent Of this county, under
various nom de plumes, this same gentleman
assaulted my brother and myself, Through the
press. the members Of the county court and
others. and did everything he could TO make
our work a failure; but, nevertheless. our work
was great success. and now Cooper county
has not a dollar OF straight debt, while her
township debts, bearing only nye per cent.
have been almost obIiterated. and ocr taxes
are lower than in any other county In central
Missouri
Had this disturber, this grave-digger. his
way. you would have, feIlow-citfzenS, to-day q
debt upon you of at least q million dollars. |
bearing eight and ten per cent compound in
terest. and your land would not be worth ten |
dollars per acre