The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-09-04


single term.
1t was then the railroad and
other public service corporations were
assessed not farthing for the sup
port of the state, while farm values
snd other property were struggling
under the load OF excessive taxation.
II was then foreign insurance
companies and other corporations
wholly escaped taxation.
II was then "sand-baggers" rio'ed IN
ill-go,tan gains al /. g expense OF legit-
innate business interests.
1t was then al forms OF tax
alton. both state and local, burdened
productive industries.
II was then Republican county
courts. without leg S alive restriction.
imposed upon the people enormous
bonded debts, exceeding twenty mil
lions OF dollars, some of which have
not yet bean paid.
II was then the average annual
disiribut on o school moneys amount
ed to only s16l ,SS5, the per capita DIS
tribution being hut twenty eight cents;
while during the present year We have
distributed sl.lT0.3ll.4S, the per cap
tia hav ng increased to s1.20.
Ii was then corrupt lobbyists de-
bauched Republican legislatures and
reveled in wild saturnala OF riot
Gus indulg nee at the expense of the
people
II was then the credit OF this
imperial state was put to open shame
in the markets OF the world. and our
securities. although bearing high rates
of interest, found reluctant sale at
enormous discount,
II was then the management OF
the Missouri penitentiary was so flag
rant departure from honest and
business-like methods that It provoked
widespread censure and denunciation.
1t was then tho lobby expended
sl93, $3.50. as shown by the records
of the United States courts at st,
Louis, to corluptly secure the release
OF the states lien upon the Missouri
Pacific road. at loss of six millions
OF dollars to the taxpayers,
It was then, through corrupt lobby
influences. the Iron Morn ain Rail
rad was sold %? to the lowest
and worst bidders by the comm sson-
ers appointed by q Republican Gov
ernor. one of the purchasers beng a
brother to one of the commissioners.
II was then our railroad securi-
ties. which Governor Fletcher declared
10 be "ampe security for the amounts
advanTrr 70 rlTrTrT, rrSprrtt---~fft wei :
sold for 81. I2l ,496, the state being the
/ loser by these transactions in the ex-
act amount OF s25,604,3i4 This deb
is heritage of Republican dishones y,
exceed ne forty-six millions Of dollars,
principal and interest, but ! congratu'
late the people that within few short
months We will have paid every dollar
OF this Republican debt except the
amount held in trust fr the school
fund.
This, in brief, is a summary of the
profligate waste of the peoDle's re
sources during the period Of Repubi-
can domination from 1865 to 1S7l-au
era cha actrrized by a recent edit1ri
Of the leading Republican organ as a
period of "sp endij finance The
people may well ask for a deliverance
from repetition Of such splendid
finance" inasmuch as 1t has required
more than Thirty years to pay the
debts imposed BY Republican methods
of splendid finan' e.
Republican Regime in st. Louis.
The recent record of the Republican
party in the city of st. Louis is even
more shameless than the record made
/ by that party in the management OF
sac affai S. Foul corruption. so rank
and aagrant that it smells to he.,v n
permcatod almC st every branch OF t,t
Republican city government. The
revenues Of the city were cJrruptly
wasted. and some Ct the pubic rec
Ords destroyed to conceal the evil
dances of crime. The appropriations
for the support of the charitable and
other institut ols CT the city were ut
tnrly inadequate while many Of the
streets for time wera unlghted
Franchises Of great value to the people
were cOrrupt'y battered. Important
lcgisla ion could be Sc ured ony by
the means of Filthy bribes. The Mayor
was charged by the grand jury with
embpzzling public funds. and his pri
vate secretary and many other Re
publican city officials have been in
dicted for bribery, perjury and Other
heinous onensas. Some of them have
alrrady been convicted; others are yet
tn be id; VII Il yet others have fie1
to Mexico and otner 70 eien countrie,
TO escape the vengeance Cf an out
ragged public.
have cited Republican rule in th'
state, and in the city of st. Louis that
the people may know how little reli
ance can be placed upon the pledges
of the leaders of party who have
been thus recreant to public duty ant
faithless to the peoples interests.
Mi.souris Democratic Record.
In striking contrast with the es sen
till features Of Re ub.ican misrule ir
Missouri and st. Louis is the rule o.
the Democratic party of the state
The Democratic party succeeded tC
power on The list of January. 1873. The
bonded debt at that me was $21 ,768.
000 and the rate OF at, tay alton fifty
cents on the hundred dollars. Thes,
bonds were originally amply secured