Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-03-20
MISSOURI DEMOCRACY .
Eager for the Fight The Republics
-ERinging Challenge to Battle.

Republican leaders in Missouri have
elected to make the coming campaign
upon State issues. The Democracy
cheerfully accepts this gage of battle.
The essential prizes for which the Re-
publicans contend are the control Of
the Supreme Court and the election Of
a United States Senator. The issue
upon these lines of battle cannot be
doubtful. Democracy will triumph
with an old-time majority.
Democratic candidates will go into
the contest with substantially a fault
less record of party administration to
present. The State will pay off, at
the beginning Of the coming year, the
last bond, exclusive Of the school GER
titicates, imposed upon the people OF
Missouri by corrupt Republican adj
ministrations.
Democracy has given 10 the State
honest election laws and an honest
prosecution Of violators.
1t has administered our fiscal affairs
with most exacting honesty and econ
omy.
1t has built up a school fund, in
vested in the States securities, un-
surpassed by any state Of the Union.
1t has fostered and developed an
educational system that has no su-
perior.
1t has taxed all forms Of property
upon q uniform and equitable basis.
1t has required the railroads to
meet their just share Of expenses Of
Government, although the Republican
party, while In control, did not exact
one cent of taxation from these public
corporations.
1t has punished crime, and gener-
ously fostered public enterprises.
1t has greatly enlarged and multi
piled the States institutions for the
care Of the unfortunate classes of the
people while at the same time reduc-
ing the tax rate below that of any
other state.
1t has distributed one-third Of the
taxes for revenue purposes to main
tain the public schools, while the dis
tribution by the Republican party |
to only one-fourth of the
revenue.
1t has increased the principal of the |
school fund, and has never diverted a |
dollar to any other purpose, while the |
Republican party improperly used
part of this fund for the payment of
the public debt.
II has never Inundated the people |
by the election Of the agents Of great |
to the Senate of the
United States.
No Senatorship has ever been put
upon the auction block since the De-
mocracy regained control OF this State
ln 1878.
With this record, the Democratic |
party can confidently expect the ap-
proval of the people. The old guard |
Df the Democracy, which has never
yet wavered in times of battle can be
depended upon now to be true to the
splendid record Of the party.
The Democracy, however, is con.
fronted with an unscrupulous foe, led
by great railroad magnate who is a
to succeed MisSourlis gift
ID Senator, George Graham Vest. All
she influences OF the Republican rail-
road lobby Of Missouri can be depend
ID upon to promote the candidacy OF
Colonel r. Q. Kerens.
This lobby will be and even is now
being REINFORCED by one Of the lobby
sts OF the State who has heretofore
,laimed to be a Democrat.
The combination seems to be power
'ul, but when the people fully under
itand the forces behind the Republi-
an party and its candidate for Sena-
jOr they will oyerwhelm the combina-
ion and the conspirators with the
orce Of an aroused pHblic opinion.
70, Louis Republie.