The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-08-26
Declares That the Erstwhile Demo
cratic Statesman of Rails
County Is Insincere.
WHY HE FL0PPED TO M'KINLEY.
Naunted Solicitude for the Farm
ers Analysed and a Record. Not
Any Too Commendable,
Made Plain to All.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

| REPUBLIC SPECIAL
! Mexico. Mo-. Aug 25.-Sam r. Cook to-
day issued the following statement to the
press in regard to Colonel Richard Dalton's
flop to Republicanism:
II notice from the be-Democrat that
Colonel Richard Dalton has been recent
caller at Republican State headquarters
and that the Rails County statesman found
himself very comfortably at home among
his newly made political allies.
I'm an interview in the Glohe-Democrat
Colonel Dalton, with something of a blare
of trumpets, declares that his great solici-
tude for the farmers of Missouri has led
him to espouse the cause of Colonel Joe
Flory for Governor and to throw the weight
OF his ponderous influence against Mr.
Dockery and the Democratic State ticket
Colonel Dalton's complaint is that under
Democratic rule the people of Missouri are
being made to carry outrageous burdens in
the form of State taxes
mo one questions Colonel Dalton's right
TO espouse whatever political cause he pre-
fers. He is free American citizen and it
Is his privilege to shout himself hoarse for
Colonel Flory and the whole Republican
ticket If he so desires But in doing this,
colonel Dalton should have some regard for
the truth and not turn his back on the
IN the conduct of affairs in this State.
Colonel Dalton knows that the assess
ment of railroad property is so per cent
higher in Missouri than in the Republican
State of Illinois,
Colonel Dalton knows that the tax rate
Tor State purposes in Missouri on farm
property as we'll as on all other is nearly 50
per cent lower than in illinois,. or for that
matter In any of the adjoining States.
Colonel Dalton knows that the real bur-
which ha ann1e ~ lice hoo
ing IN the way of taxation is the fraudulent
railroad debt, imposed in many of the coun-
ties OF this State years ago when the party
whose cause Colonel Dalton now espouses
was In full control.
Colonel Dalton knows that his own coun-
ty OF Rails is still heavily burdened with
this debt and that the State tax of to-day
Is mere pittance compared with this Re
publican relic.
Colonel Dalton knows that the tax rate
for State purposes to-day is just half what
II was when his newly formed political al
lies were in control in Missouri
coiI I'm his great solicitude for the people
that the party which he now so affection
ately embraces squandered over So, Coz, 900 of
State securities. held against the railroads
of the State and placed this enormous bur
den on the people.
Colonel Dalton is also very careful to
avoid any reference to the fact that the tax
heinism Is more than five times as great as
for State purposes.
COLONEL Dalton. is apparently ignorant,
too. of the fac; that while the State debt
has been practically wiped out, the bonded
debt of st. Louis has steadily increased un-
e DER az Republican I M rule. and is now in excess
Colonel Dalton eulogizes Colonel Flory
and denounces Mr.. Dockery. and yet he
does not, and cannot, point TO a single pub
fitness for the responsible duties of the
chief executive of this State, or to a single
,t vote or or utterance of Mr.. Dockery during
demonstrate his rghtful claim to the fullest
confidence and respect of all honest and in
teiIigent citizens Of Missouri.
IF Colonel Dalton supposes for a moment
that he can fool the people of Missouri he
Will find later on that they are wiser than
he thinks, and If the managers at Repub-
Dalton will have any following in his flop
to Flory they will realize in the melan-
choly days of November how thoroughly
they wasted their time In listening to the
tale of woe OF a dsgrunt!ed politician.
Colonel Dalton wanted to be Governor
In 1892 Like many others who have aspired
wanted. Although fairly beaten in an open
contest. Dalton was sorely disgruntled. In
the eampaisn which followed he was the
tial favors at the hands of the State De
mccracy.
After the election that year Dalton
Louis, the best position in the gift of the
President for this State. Mr.. Cleveland
was bitterly opposed to making the appoint
ment, and said that Colone! Dalton was un-
fit for the place Through the persistent ef-
forts Of Missouri Democrats. Dalton was
finally appointed. He held the office for the
full four years. during which time he Gid
not help the party to the extent of penny
or a kind word. The clerks in his office did
not even know whether he voted for Bryan,
Mckinley or Palmer.
"Dalton's espousal Of the candidacy of
Colonel Flory and his opposition to Mr.
Dockery and the Democratic State ticket
Will not influence half a dozen voters in
the Ninth Congressional District where
he is best known. His home county Rails,
will give an increased Democratic majority
this fall.
Mr. Dalton pretends to be actuated by
his deep soltcitude for the farmers of the
State and yet he knows there Is no State
in all the Union where the burdens OF State
taxation are so light as In Democratic Mis-
souri,. And he knows further that but for
the Democratic party Colonel Richard Dal-
ton would not to-day have a farm to pay
taxes on"