Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-08-20
Senator Clay Has Enough and Is
ga shsmed-"

Ashamed"
To the Editor Of the Ledger.
mexico, Mo-, August 13.-ln your
editorial columns of yesterdays issue,
"the LEDGER, the writer thinks, was
not ill-natured in its remarks on an
nouncing the appointment of John d.
Orear to the vacancy of Prosecuting
Attorney, and in justification the
writer wanders through a halt column
or more of innuendo and reckless as
sertion. Let us see, what was the
provocation under which the LEDGER
is smarting fromsa ruthless spank
ing''-certainly the most suggestive
punishment of which the case admit
ted. In the article, upon which l had
a few words OF comment, occurs the
following:
stThe methods of Governor Stone
and his machine are well known to
the rank and file of the party. Any
Democrat who thought at all about
the matter knew if GovernorC Cook en-
dorsed Mr.. Orear that Mr.. Orear
would receive the appointment.
Knowing these things, the Democrats
of the county, whenever they meet
in consultation for any purpose, al
ways either open or close with an en-
dorsement of Gov. Stone and sGov-
ernor Cook The people this way
sanction bosslsm. They must enjoy
it. They should not kick"
After such u~tterances what brazen
effrontery to to speak for the
democrats of the county," AS one
of some four hundred and more good
Democrats who signed MIR. Orear's
petition (and no boilers among them,
either) l wish to emphatically repu-
diate this assumed sponsorship and
now, in the name of the Democrats OF
Audrain County, resent such base in
situations.
The filings logged in for the Chair
man of the State Committee whom
the party in county and state conven-
tons has SO recently unanimously en-
dorsed for his sterling Democracy can
go for the little they r worth. II
would have been surprising indeed,
Mr.. Editor, if you could attempt to
write anything about the Democratic
party without the usual crack at your
distinguished journalistic colleage.
Every fresh bestowal of the party's
honor and confidence upon him seems
to make a ranking wound in the
Democracy of the LEDGER. leave II
for him to apply the proper poultice
A petition, then, of four or five hun
bred Democrats, it seems, cuts nc
figure in the LEDGER's ~sunanimous
choice" And as for Mr.. Orear's
qualifications, let the files of the exec
alive office speak, including the
strong endorsement of q member Of
the Supreme Court and OF some of the
abiest lawyers of the bar.
Now, one word more and / taks
leave of a newspaper controversy, fol
offering the opportunity of which
am half ashamed, but, as a Democrat.
could not resist the feeling to repe
the unjust aspersions upon our State
executive and the injustice to a young
man whose only crime is in having
Mr.. Cook for a friend. But a word OF
behalf of our young lawyers of whom
Mexico may well be proud. 1 do mo-
believe there could be found one
among them who approves of the
course of the LEDGER in this matter
Mr.. Rodgers, / am sure, whose name
has been SO generously dealt with by
Audrain Democrats, would be the las
to do SO; and 1 hope, for the honor o.
a profession so distinguished for lib.
crafty and learning, there is no ont
among the older members of our bal
who would not rather lend a helping
hand than to attempt to embarras'
the merited promotion of a worthy
young member. G. CLAY.
On reading the editorial columns o.
the Intelligencer and Senator Clay.
card in the LEDGER it is evident tina
the same mind inspired both. "Gov.'
Cook and "Lieut. Governor" Clay
we presume, expect to catch the LED
GER "coming and going" 1t is NJ
matter; they are both easily disposed
of. Senator Clay, IN the card allow
published, says he is through and tina
he is thaIf ashamed'' of this contro
versy. He should be the other half
There was no cause for his putting in
1t was none of his business. The LED
GER had not referred to him in an.
way. Col. Cook is amply able to taxi
care of himself in a newspaper con
troversy, and If he is not he woul'
surely call on some one who is. Tit
Mexico LEDGER did not act as "spon
sor'' to the Democratic party. Tit
Democrats spoke for themselves
Who authorized Senator Clay to do 81
much 'tresenting?" Our distinguish
ed Journalistic colleague" is all RICH
and knows his business and the LED
GER has no ~"rankling wounds" Tn
LEDGER is not jealous of anyone, il
fact, has no reason to be, and if it was
, just what figure Senator Clay coult
cut in the matter is hard to under
stand. The LEDGER is anxious not tt
do any injustice to Mr.. Orear. Senate
. Clay seems to insist on showing tn
young mans head under the wheels
The LEDGER has no reason for chang
ing its opinion of the appointment a
, first stated.
9 Let Senator Clay publish the en-
dorsements by petition and letter TO
both gentlemen. The LEDGER is sur
that such publication will substantial
the opinion of this paper. The LED
, GER knew all about the endorsement
when it expressed its opinion; in fact
, the opinion was based on the en-
dorsements. The appointment wa
, not based on the endorsements an
that's all there is to the controversy
Let the Senator publish the endorse
ments or stand corrected.
: In addition to the notorious fac
that r. D. Rodgers was in every wa
, qualified for this position and was tn
Democratic nominee, he had on hi
Datitiou close tn 1 900 names of Demo