Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-10-13
THE REPUBLICAN RECORD.
State Auditor Seibert digs Down
and Finds Facts Concerning
the kisrule Of the Party
in the Past.

StALo AuultUE Jdu1c5 IA ooiDoEt SAo
of the most capable and trustworthy
officials to be found anywhere, has been
digging down into the record of the
Republican party in Missouri to which
the Republican State Convention this
year had the gall "to point with
PRIDE"
The record shows that during the
six years of Republican misrule in
this state gross extravaganza and
reckless corruption reigued supreme.
The most brazen of all the currupt
transactions which blots this period
Of the states history was the sacri-
ice Of the states lien on the railroads
by which the taxpayers of Missouri
were deliberately swindled out Of over
twenty millions of dollars. The state
had loaned its credit to the roads to
aid in their construction and had
guarded against any possible loss by
taking first lien on the property of the
roads, including 1,s24,4s4 acres of
land.
The Republicans under Gov. Fletch.
or sacrificed the states securities,
worth fully 30 million dollars, for &C.,
131,4s6, and corruptly compelled the
people to assume the payment of the
enormous sum of s25, $780, 44.
1t is true, as claimed by the Repub-
lican State Platform, that the Fletcher
administration reduced the state debt
$14,00 900; but that Is but half the
truth.
1t il also true that in paying this
$14, 0O0, 900 the Republicans corruptly
sacrificed s3s, 900 900 of state securi-
ties in which transaction favorites of
that party were made millionaires.
Had these securities been handled
honestly, every dollar OF the states
obligations would have been met
without the collection of one cent
through taxation of the people.
When the Republicans were driven
from power they left a state debt of
$2O, 1858 900 bearing 6 and 2 per cent.
interest. This the Democrats have
reduced to %, $40, 900, bearing sk per
cent.
When the Republicans went out of
power the tax rate for state purposes
was As cents. To-day it is only %
cents.
The Democrats have not sold state
securities nor increased taxes to ena-
BILE them to reduce the state debt.
By the practice of economy and the
adoption of sound business methods
in all the state departments the DEM
ocrats have been able to reduce the
rate of taxation as we'll as to pay over
70 per cent. of the state debt.
Under Republican rule the fees and
perquisites of secretary of state, state
treasurer and state auditor, amount
ing to $4,000 or $4,000 each pei
annum, were pocketed by these Off
cials. 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, where
by the state was swindled out of hun
| dreds of thousands of dollars and the
care Of that institution became q
burden to the people.
While to-day the discipline and
care of the Penitentiary is equal to
the best in the Union, and the insti.
tuition lie self sustaining.
And SO the record runs through al
the departments.
The Republicans paid mor money
for printing the laws and journals in
six years than the Democrats paid ir
the past twenty-four.
The appropriations for pay and con-
tingent expenses of the General As
sembly under Republican rule wal
nearly double what it has been under
Democratic rule.
And yet the Republicans at theil
st. Louis Convention this year insult
the intelligence of this state by
"pointing with pride" to this rotter
record. 1t is q record that every hon
est Republican ought to apologize
for. 1t Is one 80 corrupt, go STEPPED
in Doodle methods that the tax
payers of this state will never consen'
to have IL repeated.