Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-01-14

L
am able to state that all the public institu-
tons of all kinds are in excellent condition.
most Of them In far better condition than they
have been for many wears.
PUBLIC oRDKR, ETC
In January, 1875, at the converting of the
Thirty-eighth general assembly, in my annual
the occurrences OF the preceding two years,
constituting the first half OF this admintstra-
ton. Those were troubkrus years in the United
States They stand almost unparalleled IN
our history for the number and fire.
Quency. the wide extent and vehement pur
pose, Of the industrial upheavaIs that shook
the country. During that period we had the
''Coxey movement" the great coal strike, the
great railroad strike under the leadership OF
the American Railway Union, and numerous
other strikes Of less Importance. but scarcely
less significance To preserve the public
and property the authorities of dozen
states surrounding Missouri In every
their military forces; and in some OF the states
even the army OF the United States was en-
ployed-although have always thought and
commended that that action on the part OF the
national government was unnecessary and
could not be justified except under the most
Iatitudinarian construction of the federal con-
stitution- Not only were the states referred
to converted into great military camps, but
they were the theater of frequent scenes OF tu-
multi and SanRuinary conflicts. Although Mis-
souri, had several large cities within her Dor
ders; although she had % 900 men employed in
operating her railroads, and 10000 in operating
her coal mines; and although she occupied the
very center OF the region where the storm
ragged the fercest, she stood. If not serene, at
least comparatively unmoved amid shocks that
strained the powers Of her sister states to
their utmost limits In this commonwealth
there were no lawless disturbances ex-
cept at three or four points, and
those of little moment and of short
duration No lives were lost no blood was
was put into the field. While emit ely prepared
to employ extraordinary force If necessary. we
maintain the peace-and we were happy to
find that authority sufficient for every emer-
gency. NO man more than ! appreciates the
Importance, or more earnestly advocates the
maintenance Of a ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and
well-equipped military organization; it is a
great conservative force, and is necessary in
all large communities to meet extraordinary
emergencies; but am utterly opposed TO an
mower in civil afairs believe ii will rareIy
happen in this country that the civil officers
and the posse comitatus will not be able to
preserve order and protect the rights Of
all. Our people should not be accustomed
to the habit OF using or relying upon
stroy the seif-reIiance and independence Of
the citizen, to unduly exalt the military and to
diminish the dignity OF the civil authority.
The frequent use OF military force accuStomS
the people to its presence and oegets grow
ing disposition to rely upon 1t. Whenever the
disposition to depend upon the bayoneLs of the
army for protection becomes fxed in the minds
of the people, we will have reached a point full
OF DANGER 10 our INSTITUTIONS anu 20 lloeFty
itself | infinitely prefer a policy which will
preserve that rugged manhood and sense Of
self-reliance which teaches the people that
selves. believe, generally speaking, that the
people of Missouri, are inspired by that spirit
of patriotic independence to which refer, and
to its presence here, in a form so pronounced,
1 chiefly attribute our comparative escape
from those lawlesS outbreaks that have SO
afflicted other communities.
During the biennial period, 1856, now just
closed. nothing of unusual import has occurred.
The Nomination CT th. state has been greatly
augmented by immigration. 1t is impossible
to state the number OF persons who have moved
into the state during the last two years or the
t.
that during these years large numbers OF i'm
migrants have settled in the state. They have
located In every section, although by far the
greater number have gone into the southern
counties and into the city OF St. Louis. Large
areas of hitherto unoccupied lands have been
taken up and converted into farms and or
chards; and the population OF St Louis has
grown from city of I51.77O in 1890 to a city
fairly estimated at 10000 at this time The
Dental io''' vote Of 1882, reckoning Ave
then estimated at 2,7J2,9l5 The presidential
vote of 1896 exceeded that OF 1892 by 1873, 40;
and calculating from the same basis, of five to
one. this vote will show an increase in popula-
tion since 1892 Of $50. The population of the
state is now estimated at 3.370.165. The wealth
Of the state has also been largely increased by
importation, investment and improvement OF
property. During the whole period under con-
sideration 3l2 miles OF railroad have been
laid. many valuable mines discovered and
opened up, a large number of costly buildings
have been erected in our principal cities and a
multitude of other valuable improvements
made-improVementS which add greatly to our
aggregate wealth and serve to meet the grow
ing demands OF our commerce and business.
These Improvements - these substantial
evidences OF progress - made in the
ditfons. not only prove the enterprising
spirit of our people. but they stand. many Of
them, as real adornmentS to the state. In the
last two years production in all the principal
industries has been abundant, and the business
GSTairs of the people have gone steadily along
without interruption from any cause. There
have been no upheavals, turbulent commo-
tiOnS, no excessive or unusual violations OF
law to mar the public peace. The local cOndi-
tions within the state have in all respects been
favorable to the highest measure OF proSperi-
ty; and IL the people have not enjoyed that de-
gree of good fortune which the circumstances
about them would seem to warrant, the failure
is due to causes not created by them or in any
wise connected with the government of the
state, but is due to causes which our people
alone can not remedy.
TRAIN ROBBING. ETC.
While all have said above about good order
is true, do not mean to say that crime has
become less frequent than formerly. believe
il is true in Missouri, as IL is equally true In
all the states, that crimes committed for gain
such as larceny. burglary and the like-have
been increasing for several years The grow
ing length Of :he criminal court dockets and
the rapid increase in the number OF convtcts
sent to penal institutions furnish conclusive
proof that the number of crimes committed be-
comes greater every year. This is doubtless
largely due to the severe and long protracted
depression in business and the consequent
lack OF employment. No doubt want has driven
many to crime.
In this connection desire to call special at
| tentiOn TO the crime OF train robbery. During
the last three years several OF these crimes
have been committed. Trains have been
| stopped and express cars rifled, and on one Oc-
| casion a conductor was shot and seriously
| wounded. l care neither more nor less for
| railroads and express companies than for
other corporations or citizens: but
more than ordinary attention, and the neces-
sity for its suppression Is so great that 1t
| should be visited by the most extreme punish
| ment- II is crime perpetrated by masked
| desperadoes. who go prepared TO commit muir
| der il IL is deemed necessary either 30 success
/ or escape Not only are those in charge OF
| trains subjected to great hazard. but the lives
| of INSTRUMENTATION and children as well as
| men-are put in jeopardy. It is a crime which
/ for reckless desperation and bold defiance OF
i law stands almost without parallel 1t sur
passes all others in its detrimental effect on
| the state. When such crimes occur with fire.
| Quency, an impression becomes widely curreni
| that life and property are unsafe within the
| jurisdiction where they prevail It is q
| crime which should be absolutely extirpated
That can not be accomplished by penitrn-
tiary sentences; The ,Thlrty-eIghtn genera
ject. made the crime 81 rapital o1ense- The
| infection OF capital punishment, however was
left to the discretion Of the jury Several con
| victions have been had since the enactment Of
the law referred to. but only penitentiary SEN
| fences were pronounced IN my opinion tht
| men who perpetrate this crime should bt
| hung. and 1 believe the law should be 81
amended as to provide that every person con
| yicted of IL should suffer death The governor
| should also be authorized to offer a reward o
| at least 81 600 for the arrest and conviction o
| any person guilty Of the onenSe. The meaSur,
| nropose Is severe. but this crime should no
| be permitted in the state. and milder remedie.
will not be Sufficient to prevent It
| FUTURE ESTIMATES.
| turn now from this review of the past Il
the consideration OF questions which concerl
the future. -
with the governor-elec. and Auditor Sci
bert I have made careful estimates of tn
treasury resources and liabilities for The en-