The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-03-01

her attitude toward Saline when this county possibly ASKS r" um WP -.
Davis candidacy. il saline should be able to force Judge cOoney upon The district as
congressional candidateS- Marshall DemocratNews
The naraUranh that heads this article contains Saline counys
declaration of its code of future political conduct and the INTELIeENcER
does not propose to be lead away from the main issue by alleged argu-
ments that pour in from every point Of the compaSs-by innumeraDe
fine spun theories couched in language of the political diplomat. we
propose to stick to the text and meet the published plans of those whose
original intention it was to fight under coyer-to create cnaoOc eonul-
tions through which they expected to profit but whose schemes we're nu
bare by an indiscreet newspaper, the Marshall Democrat News InaV
paper, which is leading the fight in Saline county and around which the
lesser volcanoes Of Reorganization in the seventh congressional dlStrcu
are clustered, everywhere in eruption, belchng forth expetive and SO
called argument calculated to inure the democratic party finally some
of which go far enough to anege themselves wiser and purer than the
party en- masse and urge opposition to democrats after they nave oeen
nominated-must not vacnlate but must meet the issue it has laid down.
We propose to stick to the text; therefore must refuse to sail out upon
seas of unmeaning argument that will take the attention of the democ-
racy of Lafayette county away from the main point involved.
We will not enter upon a lengthy discussion Of the warfare that is
being made on Judge cooney, which has resolved itself into an ugly
personal fight in Saline county, no matter how unfair we may consider
the prevalent effort in some quarters to hold him personally responsible
for the action of the congressional committee; nor will we dwell upon
the puerfe effort that is being made to convict Judge Cooney, over the
shoulders of the congressional committee, Of some unpardonaDe SIN
against democracy and the people in calling the convention fol so early a
day. Suffice to say, along this line, that while we believe that an
unnecessarily early date was named for this convention we do not believe
that it will, Of itself, prove injurious to the party's welfare, except that
condition he brought about by these very same kckers who are bewai-
ing, with crocodile tears in their eyes, the harm that democracy is
doomed to meet in this district, which Of course has its effect Our
position, admitting that the calling Of the convention at the date that
has been selected was a mistake, is that the best interests OF democracy
suggest a rectfcation of such matters within the party councils rather
than in raising a public howl that can result in no good but is calculated
to mean harm to the organization. Already such newspapers as the
Kansas City Journal have picked up the cudgel and are mauling democ-
racy with the weapons thrown into its hand by these undemocrauc
newspapers, which, though declaring allegiance to the party, would
sink it in order to satisfy hatreds on the one hand and the personal
ambitions of some people on the other hand. With the reiterated state
sment that w believe Cooney to be as good and as worthy congressional
timber as either Hamnn Or Hall-that one Is every bit as good as the
other and that the district would not suffer in the event Of the election
of either-we drop this phase of the question and return to the text laid
down by the Marshall Democrat-News in a discussion of this matter, viz:
"We expect to present candidates for office after This contest is
closed.'
To be surel To be sure! This is just the issue we are meeting. If
there is not a suggestion Of bringing other contests into this congress
sional race in this declaration of party policy by the Democrat-News
then we maintain that the English language is meaningless.
But we are not left the opportunity OF even a chance to doubt, for
a little further on in the same paragraph this same newspaper writer
burns all the bridges behind him by laying down this proposition in
urging the necessary defeat Of Cooney:
at will be unfair, for instance, to the prospects of Hon. SamI
Davis as a candidate for supreme judge. WhHf anil be LqMyNae's
anauds towayd Saline aNea his comfy possibly asks he, aid IN SUPPORT Of
Here the bidder Senegamban is brought from under cover, stripped
to the skin and spotched from sole Of foot to crown Of head with the
sewage of political chtcanery and branded trade on every part of his
ugly anatomy. In urging support of the Hon. Matt. Hall and wagng a
warfare on the Hon. James Cooney, as unjust as it is out of place, and
with which this county has nothing to do, this bold newspaper writer
the democracy thereof as club with which to hammer his local political
enemies into a state of quiet submission to those schemes which he
desires to see pushed forward in the district AN inexcusable piece Of
More than that. This fellow thus assumes to place the Lafayette
county democracy in opposition to its own candidate for supreme judge.
He evidently considered the candidacy Of Judge Graves mi at the time
he wrote, for if such a citizen lives in Missouri the fact was seemingly
ignored by the writer who laid down the dangerous text here under con
SideratiOn. Not even a crumb OF comfort was thrown to the Lafayette
county lawyer. In his race for a place on the supreme bench Judge
Graves was not considered worthy passing notice even until the journal
isUic colossus at Marshal was confronted with his own selfish break by the
INTELIIeENCER, which newspaper was on guard for the democracy OF
this county; then, realizing thai in order to satisfy the wounded pride
and appease in so far as possible the righteous Indignation OF the Lafay-
cite county democracy he comes out several days later with the state
ment that his failure to mention the candidacy OF Judge Graves in draw
ing his political deductions was due to "a grave lapse of memory
"Lord God Of hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget, lest we forget.'
Now, let us reason together on this proposition laid down by the
editor of the Democrat-News, laying aside all this smoke that is curling
heayenward, without fire to give it origin in Lafayette county, aneut
political trading, etc.
The INTELLIGENCER has never urged political trading, but on the
other hand has taken a position against just such an emergency at the
Sedaia convention should it arise, as has been threatened by Saline. t
antogonize the interests of the candidacy Of Judge Graves for Il
supreme bench. The Marshall paper has stated plainly that there Is
politics in this congressional contest that will reach beyond the congress
sional convention at Sedana and the INTELLeENcER, being true t
Judge Graves, has needed the warning and sounded the alarm, baset
fupon the admissions OF the journalistic sponsor for Judge Davis al
Marshall. We do not charge chat the Democrat-News used the name 0
Judge Davis authoritativey; with that we have naught to do here. w
merely meet the conditions that confront us. The glove was laid dowr
and we simply picked it up in defense of our home candidate We are
not only backed by justice but by the very first law of nature.
Acting upon this warning and taking the DemocIat-New at It's
word in effect that Saline would want other offices after this congress
sional matter is settled, singing out the supreme iudgship, the INTEL