The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1901-12-14
Judge by Facts.

Judge BY Facts.
Something like ten years ago viii
liam J stone took up the fight against
corporation influences in Missouri
politics and since that time he has
besa the especial target for the venom
of men who, in order to carry their
points, have not hesitated at any step,
whether it bore the mark of truth and
Justice or whether it was based on
falsehood i'm the accomplishment Of
their purposes. While fighting under
cover for all these years, these lobby
lists and their willing assistants have
at last come out from the brush, SO to
speak, and are now making an open
fight on Stone and the democratic
administration of the state as damna-
bic in its purposes and intentS as was
the conspiracy to rob Kentucky Of its
legally elected governor. True these
men are not reSorting to the direct
methods Of the assassin in 80 far as
the taking OF human life is concerned,
but with them the assassination Of
human character seems to be as trivial
as child'S play. And seemingly they
would not hesitate to ~aSSaSSinate the
democratic party if that organization
continues to stand in the way of their
corrupt practices.
The especial weapon which has been
chosen with which to kill of Stone
and incidentally injure the state ad-
ministration through a fight on Sam B.
Cook, was the Cardwell deposition mill,
which was set to work grinding out a
bayfe grist at independence. That
Cardwell was a secondary consideration
in this inquiSition is plainly manifest,
Judging from the evidence so far
adduced. Whatever the merits of Mr..
Cardwell's contention and however
loud the protest a. to lofty civic
motive in the matter, there was politics
all through it, smeared on so thickly
that a blind man could zee.
Regardless of the fact that the
depoSitions taken at Independence
may point to corrupt methods in
individual cases, we must Judge the
democratic party by results.
If the brewers Of Missouri con-
tributed money to. the democratic
campaign fund, that contribution did
not prohibit the passage of a bill tax
ing beer, the reyenue from which
: places $4,000 into the treasury
every year.
If W. II. Phelps and John II. Car,
| roll, representing the Missouri Pacific
} and Burlington railroads, respectively
| placed money in the campaign fund Of
r the democrats it did not prevent the
passage by a democratic legislature
over the bitter opposition Of these sell
same lobbyists, of a railroad and fel
low servant law.
S If the trusts were plucked Of money
: with which to conduct a demOcrati,
campaign. it did not prevent The
I passage of a stringent antitrust ac'
t under which a democratic attorney
r general throttled the insurance com
bine of the state.
If the Transit company of st
Louis, through its alleged agent
B. Judge Priest. and the metropolitan
Street Railway company of Kansa
City, the latter the recent patrOl
saint Of Mr.. Walsh, contributed to tn,
democratic campaign fund, their con
o tributions were certainly not e%tfectiv
: when we consider the fact that
n democratic legislature passed a Lax
r taxing franchises which added mil
p lions TO the assessed valuation of theS
corporations causing them to pay jus
n taxes which they had previouSl
avoided.
These r a few of the most impol
tant measures, but innumerabl
q Others could be mentioned which al
n ample contradiction Of the charge
n made by Mr.. Cardwell that legiSlatio
70 was bought and paid for before tn
, legislatures convened, the centr;
committee being the agent throug
which these unholy trades were col
70 Summated. The facts are sufficient I
show that the democratic party in tt
10 state has considered no campaign gi
IN as a bride and has in no inStant
ID betrayed the confidence Of the peopl
lie A Missouri Colony.
lie The Missouri colony in Great
~. vi r. ~ A. Ill -