The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-01-11
Democracvs Sulendid Record.

lengthy interview with Governor
Dockery, giving a partial account Of
his stewardship during the first year
Of his administration Of the affairs Of
Missouri.
This interview should be read by
every taxpayer in the state and, when
read, carefully considered.
Hereoflate a lot of trouble makers
have come to the surface in Missouri
who are making a great deal Of noise
in an attempt to pull down and
discredit the present administration,
but regardless OF their howlings and
cayortings the record proves the fact
that not a state in the union is more
ably governed and that no people Of
any single one Of the many great
commonwealth have greater cause to
congratulate themselves on the class
Of men chosen to look after their
common affairs.
In the light Of the claims Of a few
disgruntled democrats and many
dishonest republicans to the effect
that brewers were bled to help along
a democratic campaign carrying with
1t the inference that legislative favors.
had been promised these brewers in
return for their money, what Gov.
Dockery has to say on this subject
is particularly interesting and per-
tinent at this time. Hear him:
"The State has already collected
from beer inspection fees s461, 643, OF,
Of which s2Ol, s4l, S3 accrued prior to
the passage of the modified law. The
so-called 'sback tax" on beer is a
clear gain to the treasury, as there
was no provision Of law Ender which
it could have been collected prior to
the enactment Of ,the modified law.
The beer law is an inspection meas
ure, and the fees imposed by it are
inspection fees. 1t was not, there
fore, possible to lawfully enforce
the collection Of inspection fees after
the consumption of the beer. The
thanks Of the people are especially
due the Legislature for the passage
OF this measure, because, without it,
there would have been an appeal to
the supreme court Of the United
States and a yexing delay Of at
least two years, during which time
the state would have derived no
revenue from this source.n
Does the truth contained in the par
agraph quoted above bear the mark
Of a trade with the brewers by the
democratic party, through which the
former were to have legislative fayors
in return for their campaign contri-
buttons? Are the brewers OF beer
in Missouri such fools as to use money
for the election Of a political
ticket that would force them to bear
their just proportion Of taxation
when hitherto they had managed to
escape payment Of a single penny as
a legitimate tax on their p~roductsg
The proposition is too puerile for
discussion by sensible men.
''But that street railway donation
by Sam Priest" YOU say. "How
about that?"
Gov. Dockery answers this question
by referring to the fact that the last
legislature passed an act providing
for the taxation of franchises
measure Numerically opposed to the
financial interests of the Transit
company and which causes that cor
poratlon to pay thousands of dollars
into the state treasury every year, in
the matter Of taxation, on its valuable
possessions. We know nothing Of the
money paid into the campaign fund,
or alleged to have been paid in, by
Sam Priest, or any other corporation
agent, II such they be, looking to the
election Of the democratic ticket;
we do know, however, that the
legislature passed a law taxing fran
which bill was opposed by
every lobbyist within the confines Of
the state.
AS to the matter Of the splendid
condition Of the states revenues, the
noted reduction in the bonded indebt-
edness Of Missouri, and the fact that
the cash capital school fund is the
largest Of that Of any state In the
union, we refer you to the governors
interview with that feeling Of pride
which should govern every true Mis-
.o..-t I-. /