Mexico weekly ledger., 1901-05-16
COOK on A POLITICS.
Letter From the Secretary Of State
10 Editor Bean at Kevadz-
Opposes Another Peftls
Springs Convention.

NEVADA. Mo- May S-The follow.
ing letter was reoeived herr to-day
from sam r. Cook By E E. Bean, ons
Of the editors e the Nevada Ma7, in
reSpsnS 70 . qnery as % his idea d
the necessity q holding another Per
tie Springs c0lventi0n.
JEFFERSON ITT, Nay7.-I am ia re
ceipt Of your letter asking my opinion
IOf "tbe necessity for alpother Pertle
Springs Convention.
In order that this question may be
answered intelligenfly it IS neces2ur
think, 70 compare party conditions
In Missouri now with thoSe existing IN
ilsa5 In the latter year the Democ-
nacy was confronted with a national
administration chosen By Democratic
votes. acting in open hostility to the
convictions u an overwhelming ma
|iog o. the party Of this State. The
party machinery, both national and
State, was dominated by the ma
tional ADMINISTRATION large mum
beP Of the counties Of this State the
party machinery WIS under the same
influence Then a great party pnn-
ciple was involved with the masses Of
the party on the one side and the
party machinery On the other.
That there should Be under such con
ditiOn widespread discomfort. positive
demand for party reorganization and
declaration Of party principles was.
but natural What are the conditions
to-days
The party organization, nationally,
selected al the convention which.
unanimously nominated Bran. In.
Missouri the party machinery IS in
thorough accord with the rank and
file Of the organization. We have
just come out Of a campaign in which
Missouri Democrats made the proud
est record Of any state in the Union,
There was no ALTERING. no going
back no surrender Of principle in this
State. Why. then. the need Of reor-
.gznization OF reafirmatiOn # party
by an extraordinary con-
vention in Missouri, SC soon upon the
heels Of this splendid victory Does
the fact that in the election Of a
Worlds Fair Mayor in st. Louis bust
ness interests we're placed paramount
Of party considerations make such an
extraordinary convention necessary.
let US 20 further and suppose that
business consideration had nothing 20
do with the result in St. Louis, but On
the contrary the election Of the Dem
ocratic nominee waS the result Of a
determination On the part Of certain
persons who have not In recent cam
supported the Democracy t0I
get control u party affairs in this
State and shape party policies.
II such a purpose exists, is there any
doubt Of the ability d the Missouri
state Democracy to take care oil
ITSELF Are the forces which made
Missouri the banner Democratic State
in the Union in 1896, and which re-
tanned this proud distinction for the
State in 1900, to be demoralizcd and
by this st. Louis contingent
Ii seems 10 me that those who stand
fear and trembling Of such a result
know very little Of either the temper
and convictions or the courage q the
Missouri Democracy. What could
such a convention do this time?
Are we TO assemble for the purpose
Of solemnly declaring that we are
the three congressional districts
comprising the City Of St. Louis are
70 dominate the other thirteen
districts Of the States / have seen mol
evidence Of fear on the part Of the
great mass Of the State Democracy.
An important election is to be held
next year. There are to be chosen
three members Of the Supreme Court,
a State Superintendent Of Public
Schools two Railroad Commissioners
members Of Congress, las well
As a Legislature, which will select a
successor TO Senator Vest, and inn
portant local Offices in all the ~eOuntiesl
81 the State are to be filed.
VIII not this give all Democrats
enough to do without involving the
party in internal strife at this time?
Is there any doubt of the stalwart
Democracy Of the State being able to
dominate its own conventions? II 50,
instead Of holding an extraordinary
convention at this time, the party
disband and go out Of business
ior all time. For myself, / have abso-
ute faith In the intelligence and the
courage Of the Missouri Democracy.
The rank and file Of the party consti-
ute as resolute and patriotic an or
.yanization as ever won a victory or
lnfalteringly met defeat. The yery
act that the Globe Democrat and Re
publican party managers generally are
this proposed convention
,ught 10 make those Democrats who
ire advocating such a step, stop and
eriously consider the wisdom Of their
'OuTse.
l can see no necessity for such a
invention, but, On the contrary, re-
ard it as uncalled for. unwise and
raught with grave possibilities. In
ny judgment 1t would be impossible
0 arouse general interest among the
ank and file Of the party, and the
allure Of the movement would nee !
be hurtful TO pparty interests !
sam b. Cook.