Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1902-09-04
Declaration Of Principles Adopted by the St.
Joseph Convention.
Prosperous, Progressive and Honest Conditions Re
sulting from the Wise, Economical and Business
like Management of the Public Affairs Of
Observation-Disclosures Extravaganza
and Mismanasement

and penal institutions to mcct tho grow
Ing needs Of IN" state, and which are
universally conceded to- he among the
best institutions OF their kind in the
Union.
In this connection We call attention to
tho fact that oue-nfth Of the entire
state tax Of Iwcutv-tvc cents on the
sl0u valuation is returned the very year
It is collected TO the seNorm counties of
the state for distribution among the
school districts for cd national purpos :;
that two-hfths of this state tax has been
applied to paying the interest and prin-
C'pdl Of the public debt. ami that with
tho remaining two-htths of his tax,
which is but ten cents on the 500, all
the current expenses of the state GOV
crnmont. including appropria tons for
public buildings for tho support of the
educational, elcemOsynarY and penal in
stitutions Of the state. for tina payment
of criminal costs. for the payment OF
salaries of all executive. judicial and
legislative officers of the State. and for
all other current cxpenses of the state.
are paid, this being the smallest tax
levied for such purposes by any State Of
the Union.
We also call attention to the fact that
when the Democratic pa,Ly came into
power I'm 1873 the bonds of the State bear
ing per cent interest. by reason of the
Incompetent and dishonest admin stra-
ton of our public affairs by Republicans,
were selling In the market at about
eighty cents on the dollar. but that now,
10y reason Of tho better and more honest
methods of administration under Demo-
cratic auspices. bonds Of the state bear
ing only 'Sl-2 per cent interest would
command a premium in any market of
the world.
Progress OF the state.
We take especial pride in also calling
attention to ~" fact that under Demo-
cratic rule, Missouri has Outstripped
nearly all her sister States in industrial
growth and dev"lEpmeSgntL; She stands
whole Union. New York. PENNSYLVANIA
and ohio outrank her. hut they are the
centers of population and wealth when
Missouri was the frontier. Illinois Is the
only other state to outrnnk Missouri, AMI
Illinois is not only much older than Mis-
souri. but mas had exceptional advant-
ages. Missouri Ia Confessedly the great
cst state by all odds west of the Missis-
sippi River.
These great achievements won by the
Democratic party for the State have
been won, not with the help OF R@pubii-
can newspapers and politicians, but in
spite of their malignant partisan efforts,
still continued, to belittle and traduce
the State and obstruct its progress.
Splendid Public Schools.
We point with special pride to our mag
nitiCsnt public school system, which was
founded in 1887 under Democratic SUI
premacy. and has been fostercd by every
Democratic administration since. 1t was
revived from II letharsic condition in
1873 when our party was returned to
power and has since been steadily deve
oped under its guiding influence until IL
- udS TODAY second to no state school
system in the Union. In view OF the ef-
forts now being made by Republicans to
drag the public schools Of our state into
partisan pol tics, 1t is but lust TO the
! FRIEND. of education to call attention to
the fact that Missouri will disburse to
her pubic schools this year n greater
/ amount than they received during tn"
entire six years. OF Republican rule. n
/ der "A period Of excessive taxation. the
Republican PARTY when in control OF
/ the State. dishursed to tn" counties FOR
school purposes an annual average OF
/ only N6l SS5 white this year the public
| sch Nols ~ Missouri, under an exceptions
! ally low rate, will receive from the state
! O3ll ~
/ support Of tho "unli" schools does not
/ include the large appropriations I.adc for
! the support and uphuilding Of the State
/ University and normal schools. Missouri,
under Democratic rule, will pay TO the
/ city Of st. Louis alone, for the support
/ OF her public schools this year more
/ than the average annual distribution fer
the entire State during the six years OF
Republican rule.
Public school Fund.
! The state public school fund amount
/ ing 10 81, 3o7. $50 %. which is nearly three
times as much rs this fund amounted to
| power, is safely invested in the seCur-
tiles Of the State. our constitution re-
! quires that this school fun" shall he In
| vested in United states bonds or bonds
! OF this State. and nothing else. More
than a quarter OF a century ago the State
wisely entered upon the policy Of IN
| Vesting all state school funds In state
bonds instead Of United states bonds.
| This policy was adopted because State
bonds bore higher rate Of interest than
/ government bonds, and therefore would
! produce larger income for distribution
to tho schools, and also because state
bonds could he obtained at less price
than government bonds.
But as the bonds OF the state. were
payable TO bearer and consequently ne