Mexico Missouri message., 1902-10-02

none of which would yield on the in.
vestment, at their present premium.
over per cent per annum. Now. my
Republican constituents. you who have
children to educate and who believe in
our public school system and general
education, must decide what is best
for you and all our people.
You must decide whether you will
continue the present School Fund Cb-
legations and receive annually and 5
per cent, or pay taxes annually to put
into the Treasury sums sufficient to
eXtirguish the principal, and then in
vest such funds in United states bonds
and receive annuity not exec edinE ,
per cent interest. If the amendment
is adopted, you will continue to re-
ceive annually Tor the support f our
schools over $3.50 600 If it is re 'e,tei
and the funds invested in United
States bends. you VII receive annually
a little over $4,000 and will lose an
nually over Size COO
Democratic Rule.
The state administration Of Mis-
souri,, sine January. 1873 excepting
the General ASS mbly of 1866 has
been under the control of the Demo-
crate party. During this entire period
Missouri has occupied a peculiar and
abnormal pOs'tiCn-has be n the only
state in this glorious Union in which
anY respectable minority political
party leaders have continuously in sea-
son and out Of season abused. vilifed
and slanderei their State and it's gov
eminent and have done what they
could to deter immigration--tO prevent
the inflow of capital and the develop
ment of our ineXhaustib'c re ourje We
have been called the "robber State"
poor. Old Missouri" cursed and bur
Gened by the rule Of Bourbon Democ-
raCy.
Nutwithstand ng these vile SANDERS
the State has moved steadily forward
in the increase Of population. in the
development of her resources. in the
establishment Of industries AID in the
improvement Of the conditions of her
citizens. The Democratic party has no
apologies to make for any Of its admin
i-tratiCns. and boldly challenges com
parson with tho administrations Of
any and every state in this Union by
any party Republican or u mocratir.
When we took ,har-o our bonds were
at discount. and our bonded debt
large and cur taxes hi gh.
We have practically cxtinguiehci our
state debt. excepting our SclCo! Fund
obligations con-crrated Iy us To the
perpetual support and maint nance Of
our publ" schools for the education
and advancement of all our children.
While doing this we have made our
Stats cred equal II that Of the Uni
ted States and reduced our taxes from
30 cents to % cents on the 800 valua-
ton. Is cents of which is for the sup
port Of the State administration, and
we give cents of this for the sup
port of our Schools and 10 cents to pay
interest On the State debt, the lowest
taxation Of any State.
We have largely increased our pub
lie school and seminary funds. and
hare the largest School Fund Of any
State. and have a public school sys-
TEN unequalod by any State We have
established the Cape Girardeau Normsl
School No. 3; the School of Mines at
Rolla; Asylum No. at St. Joseph, No
3 at Ncyada and No. at Pennington:
the Reform School for boys at Boon
Vile; the Industrial Home for Girls at
Chillicotho; the Confederate Home at
Higgirsyille: the Fe leral Soldiers
Home at s.. james; the Fruit expert
ment Station at Mountain Grove. and
the Home for the Feeble Minded a.
Marshall We have largely added to
the State Capitol and rebuilt our State
University and largely increased its
educational capabilities ard advan-
tages. and made it the equal of the
great State universities Ct the country.
While we have teen economical and
lightened taxes of the people we have
not been parsimOniouG. nor yet prodi-
cal or eXtrvagant. While the Repub-
lican leaders and press refuse to ad-
NIT these record truths and attempt
TO be:mirCh and SANDER our State and
administrations, the good, honest, in
telliGeHt people of our adjoining States
have realized the falsty Of their Sian
ders and are coming into cur State
to buy farms-nvest their capital and
make their homes.
Proud of Missouri Democracy.
| am proud Of our Democratic adj
mnistrations in Missouri. Not a dol
lar of the many millions collected in
taxes has ever been stolen, wasted,
squandcred or lost by any Democratic
State administration. No political par
ty in any State in the Union has so
long, for so many years, given any
State better or equally as good admin
istratiOns.
Not a dollar OF our School Funds has
ever been lost, stolen. squandered or
misappropriated. | challenge the Re-
publican leaders and press to name the
man, woman or child that has taken
or received illegally or wrongfully one
dollar, one cent OF our State money.
They cannot do it. and ought to hide
thpir headS in Sbama for THAR apcu1o