The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1897-01-16
MISSOURI'S GOVERNOR.
Lon V. Stephens lnaugurated
With Simple Ceremonies.
The Induction Into Office Takes Place
Before the Legislature and Many
VisitOrs-The New Executive
Delivers Quite a Long
Address.

CITf, MO-, Jan. LA
II O'Clock today the members of the
senate marched into the house of rep
resentatives, two and two, TO partici.
pate in tue Inauguration of Governor
Stephens. The house members stood
ready to receive them. Representative
hall was packed with people, the wives
and daughters of the new and outgoing
state officers, the beauty of the city and
hundreds of people from a distance
being present. In one group were Mr..
and Mrs. G. f. Leonard, MIR. and Mrs.
Louis Nelson, Mr.. and Mrs. Speed
Stephens, Mr.. and Mrs. Alexander
Stephens, Miss Lucille Nelson of Vir-
ginia, Miss Louisa Baker of st. Louis,
Miss Susie Edgar of Boonville, MIR.
and Mrs. Paul b. Moore and Mr.. and
| Mrs. Miller Johnson, relatives or close
personal friends of the new governor
and Mrs. Stephens.
1t was IL :O7 O'Clock when the house
and senate committees of escort, the
members of the supreme court and
state oficers-elect and the outgoing
officers marched down the middle aisle.
Governor Stephens leaned or Governor
Stones arm. lie wore a black suit
with Prince Albert coat, a very high
collar and black satin four-in- hand tie
with a big diamond.
The Methodist church choir of Jeffer-
son City, in the gallery, sang the TIE
Deum, and then Rev. DR.. E. M.
Hawkins, of Kansas City invoked
divine blessing.
Chief Justice Barclay administered
the oath of Office 10 Governor Stephens,
who at once delivered his inaugural
address as follows:
GOVERNOR STEPHENS ADDRESS.
ssSenators and Representatives -
Having been called by a majority of
the electors of Missouri 10 the chief
executive Office of the state, | come
now to assume the high trust commit
ted to my hands. l hope l am duly
sensible to the weighty responsibilities
imposed upon me by the position to
which 1 have been assigned through
the favor of my countrymen. My
great desire is to render some substaD-
tinl service to the state, and l shall
strive to so administer the duties of
my office as to promote the happiness
and prosperity of the people aud to
o4ntrttnfo oat,afhfna fn tho adunnon-
ment and glory of the commonwealth.
81 shall not wish to make brilliant
or startling innovations. The best
results in practicable government can
be attained only by the strict MAINTAIN
ance of public order, exercising the
most exacting integrity in the discharge
of public duty. Along these lines it
shall be my constant endeavor TO con
duct the affairs of the state. That !
shall encounter difficulties and embar-
rasment in the progress of my work is
perhaps inevitable, and that | shall
make mistake is almost certain, but
invoking the Divine Master TO guide
me, and inspired by q resolute pur-
pose and a patriotic desire to do my
duty without fear or favor, I shall hope
to so perform my task-impartially,
justly, honorably-as TO merit the
approval of the people.
REsPoNsIBl LITIEs OF LEGISLATION.
"The responsibilities of legislation
are divided, They are shared by the
two houses of the general assembly and
by the governor. No more important
duty can be imposed upon any body of
men than that of making laws for the
government of a great state. Laws
should be enacted solely 10 promote
the public good. Men clothed with
power 10 make laws should not be
Influenced in their actions by prejudice,
by fear or favor or by any unworthy
motive. They should measure their
conduct by a standard of scrupulons
propriety. They should strenously
refuse to do any ACT or put themselves
in any position which swould compro-
mise their integrity. fetter their indie
pendence or impair their usefulness,
They should remember always that
public offices were not established to
become private snaps, but to subserve
the public need and to promote the
general welfare. They should refrain
with special care from becoming in
any wise obligated to those who may
have a selfish interest in securing or
preventing legislation. The man who
is mott absolutely free to do what is
right is unfit for public station.
"There should not be tool much leg
islatiye tinkering. There is such a
thing RS xcess in legislation. More
harm than good is done by the mere
accumulation of statutes. New laws
should be enacted only when manifestly
required to remedy some substantial
defect in existing laws, to right some
undoubted wrong, to correct some
positive evil or to meet the exigencies
of new conditions as they arise in the
development of q great and progress
i've state. Along these lines, which /
am confident you will approve, let US
cooperate in an earnest effort to make
the work of this general assembly hon
orably conspicuous In The legislative
history OF the state.
STRICTLY BUSINESS PROPOSED.
ssThere is important work to do, and
/ hope 1t will be done in = business
way. Ny chief ambition Is TO make
this administration distinctly Il business
administration, and | pray you to make
this legislature IN the strictest sense a
business Legislature. Too great expe-
dition Is moi 10 be recommended, but