Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1898-09-08
A Faithful Public Servant.
From the indianapolis Qnd.) Sentinel.

A Faithful Public Servant.
From the Indianapolis Qnd.) Sentinel.
The approaching retirement from
congressional life of Mr.. A. M. Dock
cry, of Missouri, will cause regret
among Democrats and ali who recog-
nize the value of able, faithful and dis
interested public service throughout
the country. Not alone the people of
his district and State, whom he has
served 30 well, but the country at
large will regret his retirement. OF
course Mr.. Dockery could have been
re-nominated and reelected easily.
He has been elected eight times in
succession, and on the fourth Of next
March will have completed sixteen
years of congressional life. He took
a high rank in the House soon after
becoming a member of that body, and
has enjoyed a constantly increasing
prominence and usefulness ever since.
He has long been one of the acknow-
edged Democratic leaders in Congress
and his loss from that body viii be
seriously felr. s..
Mr.. Dockery's services as member
of the committee on appropriations
have been invaluable. When the
House was Democratic, Mr.. Dockery
was chairman of this committee and,
under his leadership, large economics
were introduced and substantial saw
ings made to the tax payers without
in any way impairing the efficiency Of
the various departments of the gov
ernment. There is no better authority
in the United States on appropriations.
Mr.. Dockery can state almost off-hand
the amount which is being expended
In any branch of public service and
the amount which ought to be ex-
pended therein. While he has always
maintained a firm stand for economy
in public expenditures, he has never
favored niggardly or parsimonious
policy. In word, Mr.. Dockery stands
for the time-honored Democratic
practice of providing all the money
necessary for the maintenance of the
highest efficiency in the government,
while closing the doors against waste,
extravaganza and corruption.
Mr.. Dockery certainly has an envia-
BILE public record and one of which he,
as we'll as the people of his district
and State, may well be proud. Mis-
souri, is one of the great reliable Dem
ocratic States of the country, and
from the days of Thomas H. Benton
down to those of CockreIl and Vest
the Missouri Democracy has furnished
to the country many high types of
craftsmanship and party leadership.
Mr.. Dockery is a splendid all-around
specimen of Missouri Democracy, and
it is not surprising to learn that al
though he has voluntarily and over
the protests of his constituents retired
from congressional life, general de-
mand is being made that he accept
the Democratic nomination for Gov
ernor at the next election. Mr.. Dock
ery's public record and personal pop
ularity would render him an ideal can
didate, and his wisdom, prudence,
integrity and experience would pre-
eminently qualify him for the arduous
duties and responsibilities Of the CUB
ernstorial chair of this great common
wealth-the fifth in the union in point
of population. The Democrats of Mis-
souri, will make no mistake in the
nomination of Mr.. Dockery, and we
trust that, if called upon to lead his
party in the approaching campaign, he
will respond. Mr.. Dockery is too
young and vigorous man, and has
too much capacity for usefulness, to
be spared yet for long time from the
public service.