The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1898-10-15
MAJ RennhIIran Reconi.

safe AuuAAOl dAAAN1 ~ oNAo~Atr VIZ
Of the most capable and Trustworthy
officials to be found anywhere, has been
digging down into the record Of the
republican party in Missouri 70 which
the republican state convention this
year had the gall $50 point with pride
The record shows that during the siN
years Of republican nisrule in this state
gross e1travagancs and reckless cor
ruption rslgued supreme.
The most bnzen Of all the corrupt
transactions which blots this period Of
the states history was the sacrifice Of
the states hen on the railroads By
which The tax payers Of Missouri wer,
deliberately swindled out OF over twenty
millions Of dollars. The state hac
leaned It's credit TO the roads to aid ia
their construction and had guarded
against any possible loss BY taking 9
tirst lien on the property Of the roads,
including l,S24,iS4 acres Of land.
The republicans under Gov. Fletcher
sacrificed the states securities worth
fully sS5. 000, 900 for d ,lSI,49o, and
corruptly compelled the people u
assume the payment Of the enormou.
sem OF S25, 1906 4I.
Il Is true, as claimed BY the republi.
q state platform, that the Fletcher
administration reduced the state debl
slI ,00O,0 600; but that is but half the
truth.
II Is also true that IN paying this
sl4,0o0,000 the republicans corruptly
sacrificed sSs, 000, 900 Of state securitie:
in which transaction fsvorites Of that
party were made millionaires.
Had these securities been handled
honestly, every dollar Of the states
obligations would have been met with
out The collection Of one cent through
taxation Of the people.
When the republicans were driven
from power they left q state debt Of
20,s6s,000 bearing 6 and Z per cent
interest. This the democrats have
reduced to %, 900, bearing 81 per
cent.
When the republicans went out Of
power the tax rate for state purposes
was IS cents. Today it is 25 cents.
The democrats have not sold state
securities nor increased taxes to enable
them to reduce the state debt.
By the practice Of economy and the
adoption Of sound business methods 10
all the state departments, the demo-
Gratis have been able to reduce the rate
Of taxation IS well as TO pay over rs
per cent Of the state debt.
Under republican rule the fees and
perquisites Of the secretary Of state,
state treasurer and state auditor,
amounting to $4,000 or $4,000 each
per annum, were pocketed by these
officials. Under democratic rule every
dollar Of this money goes into the state
treasury.
Under republican rule the manage
ment Of the state penitentiary was
notorious for Doodle contracts, whereby
the state was swindled out OF hundreds
Of thousands Of dollars, and the eare Of
that institution became 4 burden TO the
people. Today the discipline and care
Of the pepitentiary is equal 10 the best
In the Union, and tho institution Is
self-sustaining.
And so the record runs through all
the departments.
The republicans raid more money
for printing the laws and journals In
six years than the democrats paid In
the past twenty-for.
The appropriations for pay and con-
tlugent expenses OF the general assembly
under republican rule was nearly double
what 1t has been under democratic rule.
And yet the republicans at their st.
LOUIS convention this year insult the
intelligence Of this state by "pointing
with pride" to this rotten record. II Is
= record that every honest republican
ought TO apologize for. 1t Is one SC
corrupt, so stepped II Doodle methods
that the tax payers Of this state will
never consent to have it repeated.