The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-07-01
ACCEPTED BY THE LoBBY.

In view of the declarations which were made by
the better element OF the Republican party regarding
the opposition OF the organization TO the domination
Of the lobby the plank in the Republican platform re-
lating TO that issue is lamentably weak and in
efficient. 1t is a compromise fulfilling in spirit and let
fer the agreement which was made in the offices of
the Missouri Pacific Railroad n month before the State
Convention assembled in Jefferson City.
Every lobbyist in the State will indorse the plank.
1t reads:
We hereby sismnIy declare our fixed ana de-
teTmined purpose TO oppose the e!sction u any
Republican who may lie q candidate for State
or Federal office who is in any wise under the
control or influence OF the lobby.
National Committeeman Kerens was in control of
the on Resolutions which reported the plat
form. He and Nathan Frank. chairman of the COM
mittee, were the prime movers in the Missouri Pacific
conference. Another member of the committee. John
IL. Flanagan, came from Carthage, the
home Of Colonel William II. Phelps, who was also in
the railroad lobby conference. As a member OF the
General Assembly Flanuagan's record as a friend Of
the lobby was consistent throughout three terms.
What has the lobby TO fear from these three
men? What platform professions prepared by these
stanch Republicans can fool the voters who have kept
posted regarding their practices? That they were aided
in securing the passage Of this plank by Richard
Dalton, another member Of the Resolutions Commit
tee, who also opposed an Endorsement Of Secretary of
the Interior Hitchcock, only adds TO the distance be-
tween words and meaning.
There is not a Republican in Missouri who will
consider himself ondemned by the lobby plank in the
party platform. Every minority member of the State
Senate is hand in glove with the lobby and every one
OF them who was n delegate to the convention voted
for the adoption OF the resolution. Among them were
Jesse L. Jewell and Charles W. Clarke OF Kansas City.
Buell. J.. Matthews OF ST. Louis County and James
NJ. Rollins Of ST. Louis. OF these Senator Rollins
will ask for a denomination on this same ~antilobby
platform.
Colonel Kerens in his candidacy for the Republican
Senatorial nomination will disclaim any alliance with
the lobby. yet he Is the recognized master OF the Re-
publican minority in the General Assembly. On every
proposition involving the lobby Representatives and
Senators in jefferson City follow his dictation. Unless
all signs fail he will again be their leader next
January.
Under these circumstances, the lobby plank In the
platform is nothing but bunconbe. The acceptance OF
the plank by the convention was 4 part OF the thar
mOny agreement which was arranged In the offices Of
the Missouri Pacific Railroad. The agreement was
and is Endorsed by the Republican organs. Attempts
TO break the compact made with the lobby by the in
of a Senatorial candidate were stifed by
the bosses who controlled the delegates TO the State
Convention. The party has failed to rise to the de-
mands of the occasion and, having failed, will suffer
the inevitable consequence next November.