Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1902-09-04

public AFFAIRS of the people. Ceeseiess
until It Is thoroughiy extirpsted. Already
the Democracy OF Missouri, aftor many
pStent as o Of tho aHf obsy
this State. into open alliance with tho
Republicans of the State but we pledge
the Democratic party to an incessant and
uneompromisins war upon this evil until
II Is wholly uprooted and eradicated.
We favor the municipal ownership OF
public utilities while recognizing tho
right and necessity OF permitting the
people Of each municipality to deter
mine the question of such ownership for
ton as will accomplish this result, and
we hold that franchises to municipal
public service corporations should not
be granted without direct vote Of tho
people. and we favor direct legislation
wherever practicable. And the Demo-
cratic party. of Missouri. in convention
assembled, does hereby pledge Its candi-
dates for office to use their votes and
influence and adopt all proper means to
secure the submission to the people OF
this state, by the next general assembly.
of a constitutional amendment providing
for the practical application Of the prtn-
CHILE Of direct legislation through tho
initiative and referendum.
Friend of Labor.
We declare that labor has the right to
organize for mutual beneflt and protec-
tion. and we sympathize with the efforts
OF the wage earners OF the country to
better their condltions. We pledge the
Democratic party to tho enforcement Of
Just laws for the arbitration of differ
ences between emnrovers and employees.
We favor laws to prohibit the EMPLOY
ment OF child labor in mines, shops or
factories. and We believe that tho full
est right OF education should be enjoyed
by all the children of the state.
We are opposed to government by in
junction and declare that laws. both
State and national, should be enacted to
preserve intact the inalienahle right to
trial by jury and to protect the liberties
of the people.
Republican Mismanagement.
The Republicans were in full control
of the State from 1865 to 1871, and of tho
city If st Louis. which represents near
| ly one-hfth OF the population and one
third Of the wealth of the State, from
administration in State and city were
marked by a degree Of intolerance and
corruption having few examples In
American history. In the state they en-
acted election laws which denied to DEM
ocrats all over the State any representa-
tion whatever in the registration Of vot-
ers or at the polls on election day. and
under which thousands Of citizens Of
high repute We're DISTINGUISHED, solely
! because they were Democrats--a law de-
| nounced by the supreme court of tho
| United states as he ng without any
| precedent for partisan brutality.
They corruptly squandered the securi-
| Indebtedness. and thus by notorious acts
| of official dishonesty so rank as to at
tract even national rebuke. fastened an
! enormous burden Of debt upon the peo-
| pie. They despoiled the public school
| fund of 100000, which, after the over
throw Of the corrupt Republican regime,
| was restored To the fund in the form
! OF an interest bearing obligation OF the
| state. They exempted railroad property
! from all forms of taxation. while they
levied an excessive burden of taxation.
! double the present rate, on the people
and wasted the revenue thus unequally
laid nnd unjustly extorted in prohigats
! expenditures. y hey 30 debased the credit
Of the State through extravagant and
SSorrqpt adm l that It's bonds,
! hawked in the markets OF the country at
less than eighty cents on the dollar.
They prostituted the public institutions
of the State to the support and enrich
me mt of their henchmen, and their exec
utive officers. in addition to their salar-
les, absorbed as perpuistes the enormous
fees are now. under Democratic rule,
! paid into the t-easurv and create a fund
sufficient to support all the departments
| without expense to the people. And dur
ing their ascendancy in St Louis they
also corruptly squandered the municipal
revenues and then destroyed the public
records to conceal their crimes.
They granted franchises valued at mil
| lions In return for bride money, but for
which the city , received civ h net fqrthng
| of the city as they aid of the State, in
| rCwardlng their partisans. thereby i'm
pairing the efficiency of the Institutions.
! ana left them in a condition bordering
! on decay.
They debased the public service of tho
! city to the lowest level. even the mayor
being CHARGED by grand jury with en-
! bCZzing public funds ard the private
secretary of the mayor and many. other
important Republican officials of that
period have been indicted for perjury.
bribery, corrupt extortions in office and
other offenses on which indictments some
/ ,zI Eerlt too
for delay, while others have fed to for
cign countries to escape punishment for
their crimes.
Democrats Were Prescribed.
The party and the men guilty of these
foul misdeeds-being the same party and
men who imprisoned women for teaching
school. lawyers and doctors for practis-
ing their professions, and ministers for
preaching the gospel; who DISTINGUISHED
General Frank p. Blair and others like
Gratis; who robbed General Shields and
| olonel Switzler of seats in Congress to
which they had been elected. and robbed
which they had been chosen, and then
burned the ballots to hide the evidence of
their frauds; and who for twenty-five
and on the stump. have denounced tho
State and its people, applying to them
the most insulting epithets-come again
with Drazen effrontery and ask the people
to restore them to power in Missouri.
In view of these well-known facts we
appeal In full confidence to all Missou-
rians who honor the fair name Of our
splendid commonwealth and are proud Of
her high credit and great achievements.
to repuke at the coming election. by an
overwhelming majorty. this party which.
while In power, was fatthless to public
duty and which, In the hope OF partisan
advantage, has not hesitated to defame
the Ststo, to blacken its name and dis
credit 1t throughout the Union.
Prairie Dogs Multiplying.