Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-08-29

was made on Saturday, and it was
naturally expected that as he had re-
tired because he felt obliged to support
the nominees of his party at Chicago.
that his successor would be in full
harmony with Mr.. Cleveland on the
money question.
Gov. Francis took a strong stand in
favor of the gold standard in the pre-
1iminary battle for delegates to the
Chicago convention, but he and his
associates were disastrously beaten in
his state. During the convention he
was also active In the convention he
has, it is said by his friends here, given
no public utterance to his position
with regard to the Chicago ticket, and,
SO far as known, has not, at least ac-
lively, allied himself with the move
ment for the Indianapolis convention.
Throughout his political career he has
been a strong supporter and a warm
friend of Mr.. Cleveland and the admin
istration. 1t is recalled that when Mr..
Cleveland was at Lake Wood making
up his cabinet, prior to entering upon
his second term, ex-Gov. Francis was
summoned there, and there was a
strong impression for time that he
would be given a portfolio.
A SHORT SKETCH OF HIS CAREER
David Rowland Francis, late governor of
Missouri, was born October l. 1850, in Rich
mond. Madison county, KY, which was also
his parents birthplace. His ancestry is a
mixture of Scotch, Irish and Welsh. In 1866
he came to St Louis where for four years he
attended the Washington university, gradual
ing with the degree Of A. B., in the class of
1870. In the middle of 1870 he began business
a shipping clerk for Shryocl< & Rowland of
St Louis, and continued with them until they
went out of business in April. 1877 In May,
1877, he began the grain business on his own
account and has continued in it ever since. In
May, 1884. he was elected delegate at-large
from Missouri to the national democratic con-
vention at Chicago. He active
worker for Cleveland and Hendricks. He
was vice president of the Merchants exchange
in 1888 and elected president in 1884, after
of the most exciting elections ever held by that
body. In March, 1885, he was nominated for
the mayoralty of st. Louis on the 18th ballot.
He elected by majority of 1900 over a
competitor who had served four years, and was
elected first by a majority of IA, 80. One of the
chief issues of the campaign was cheap gas
Mayor Francis distinguished himself by his
efforts in behalf of cheaper rates One of his
most important acts as mayor was his veto
of the Electro elevated railway bill. which was
done because of the paltry sum which the
company offered for the franchise. 1t was
during his administration that 100000 was
reclaimed from the Missouri Pacific road and
the interest reduced from seven and six per
cent to four and 3.65 per cent He was nomi-
mated for governor by the democratic conven-
tion in August, 1888, elected in the following
November. and inaugurated in January, 1888.
His administration was characterized. gener-
orally speaking, by prudence and economy.
Since his retirement from the office of govern
or he has been engaged in various
enterprises. He is looked upon as the
leader of the gold-Cleveland wing of
the democratic party in Missouri. as op-
posed to the silver wing, led by Gov. Stone.
He is the senior member of the d. R. Francis
s Brother Commission Co, which organ
lied and Incorporated as such in 1884. being the
outgrowth of the firm of D. R. Francis &
Brother. which was started in 1880. 1t is one
of the leading grain firms of the middle west.
Ex-Gov. Francis is millionaire and owns
controlling interests in several newspaper
companies in the state.