The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1900-07-26

'GOvernor Lon '. Stephens, OF
Missouri. would not call out the
militia, 10 put an end to the shame
ful outrages in St. Louis. because, he
says. it would cost 5000 per day.
The unchecked disorders have cost
the cit y over $50 600. 900
III" same charge : against Governor
stephens has appeared in a majority
of the eastern metropolitan papers,
and many columns of abuse directed
at the governor have been written
and published upon the presumption
that the charge was true.
When it seemed that in order to
bring about a restoration of normal
conditions in st. Louis il was neces-
sary to call out the militia, Governor
Stephens, thOughtfully and properly.
called a meeting in St Louis of a
petitioned him to call out the militia
and conferred with them concerning
the gentlemen that there was not a
dollar of funds available in the state
treasury, and that before the militia
was ordered to St Louis the funds
to meet the expense must be arrang-
ed for
The governor has never stated,
either publicly or privately, that he
would not call out the militia because
sit would cost $1,000 per day"
But, like the thoughtful business man
he has always shown himself to be,
he made arrangements in advance
with the citizens of st. Louis to help
carry the expense until the legisla-
ture met, when in his message he
would request that the amount ad-
vanced be appropriated by it.
The governor has been treated
from the beginning of the strike TO
the present unfairly by the press of
the country, because of the false and
exaggerated reports which have been
sent out from St. Louis. He has
moved at every step with caution
and deliberation throughout the
trouble and has the unqualified in
dOrsement of % per cent of the
thoughtful citizens of St. Louis and
Missouri In the conventions which
have been held in the state since
the strike and the demand for the
militia have been an issue, the gov
ernOr has been unanimously indors-
ed. The charge that he refused to
call out the militia simply because of
the expense is puerile and Ibelous,
and no respectable newspaper will
again repeat it.
The charge made in the east that
Governor Stephens is 'an anarchist"
is also absurd. The governor is one
of Missouri's wealthiest and most
enterprising citizens, and has the
pie at heart. Nor is he a candidate
playing for the labor vote The
governor has for two years stated
that upon the expiration of his term
he would resume his position in the
ranks of the business element, and
would ask for no further political
honors. The governor is a man of
both moral and physical courage,
and now. at the end of his eventful
term. he has the confidence and the
good will of the citizens generally of
Missouri.
The republicans up this time have
made no capital out of the strike, as
they attempted to do. The demo-
cratic authorities of the state of
Missouri deserve credit for the man
ner in which they have handled the
trouble and the people are properly
giving it to them.
There was never a time when the
police authorities of St. Louis, who
ought te know, felt the need of the
militia. There was never time when
the militia could have been effective
or of any assistance to them, and it
is generally conceded the governor
did right in not calling out the mil
itia, and the designing and hysteri-
cal who have without cause abused
and slandered him and damaged the
reputation of their city and state
ought TO be ashamed of themselves.
State Tribune, July 13.
1t Saved His Leg.