The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-09-04

public affairs OF the people. Ceaseless
war should be waged against this evil
until II is thoroughly extirpated. Already
the Democracy of Missouri. after many
battles, has driven the worst and most
potent elements of the lobby operating in
this State, into open alliance with the
Republicans of the State, but We pledge
the Democratic party TO an incessant and
uncompromising war upon this evil until
IL is wholly uprooted and eradicated.
We favor the municipal ownership OF
public utilities while recognizing the
right and necessity OF permitting the
| people OF each municipality TO deter
mine the question of such ownership for
themselves, and We favor such legisla-
ton as will accomplish this result. and
We hold that franchises to municipal
public service corporations should not
bo granted without a direct vote Of the
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 thciT votes and
influence and adopt all proper means to
secure the submissi n Il thu penple Of
this State, by the next general assembly.
Of constitutional amendment providing
for the practical auplication Of tn" prin-
chile Of direct legislation through the
initiative and referendum.
Friend Of Labor.
We declare that labor has tho right 10
organize for mutual benefit and prntec-
ton and we sympathizo win the efforts
OF the wage carncrs of luc country to
better their conditions. We pledge the
Democratic party to the enforcement OF
just laws for the arbitration of differ
cnccs between cmpioVers and employees.
We favor laws TO prohibit the Cmplav-
ment Of Chlld labor in mines, shops or
factories. and we believe that the full
est right of euucaton should he enjoyed
by all the children of the State.
We are oppnsed to government by in
junction and declare that laws, both
State and national, should he enacted to
preserve intact the malenahle right TO
trial by jury and to protect the liberties
of the people.
Republican Mismanagemcut.
The Republicans were in fun control
of the state from 1874 to 1871, and of the
cit, Of st Louis, which represents near
~ one-hith dt the population and one
third of the wealth of the State from
lS9S to 1901. These periods Of Republican
administration in State and city were
marked by degree of Intolerance and
corruption having few examples in
American history In the State they en-
acted election laws which denied TO DEM
ucratS all over thu State any representa-
tlon whatever in the registration of vot-
crs or At the polls on election day, and
under VIII Ch thousands Of citizens of
high rcputc wer" disfranchiscd, solely
because they We're Democrats law de-
bounced hy the supreme court of tho
United states aS he ny without any
precedent for partisan brutality.
They cntrupty sq,Hudvrrd the socuri-
tics held ny the state, ample To pay its
lndeht' un"SS. ana thus by notorious acts
Of official dishonesty 50 rank as to- at
tract even national r'hukc. fastened an
enormous burden nf d. 1T upun the pcn-
T1TT TTT1TT SVNOOI
FUND Of >9r o0, which, after the over.
throw of t.c corrupt kCptIhICau rcLunc,
was restored to the fpni In tn" fpem
of an interest hearing obligation Of the
state. They exempted railroad property
from all form of taxation, while they
levied an excessive burden Of taxation.
double the pres mt rate, on tho people
ana wasted tnN revenue thus unequally
laid and uniustlV cXtorted in prohgato
cNp'nditu 80. h Y 50 dchasod the credit
If tn" sat" thr urh cXtravagant and
corrupt adtninrt atom that It's bonds,
h"a'tn2 ht2h rates of interest were
hawt'a N the '''rr';rts of tho country at
less than "'rhty uts on the dollar,
they pr"Sttwcd the public institutions
al the 81 tc To III" support and enrch-
IN, Mt of III ir honchm' n, and their exec
uiiNc "lllc' r.. in aGd'tion To their splar-
/ S, absorb, d a pcrQuistos the cnormors
Tees paid into their departments, which
Ices ar" now, under Democratic rule,
paid into the ''raslrv and create a fund
sufficient to support all the departments
without expense to the people. And dur
Ing their asccndancy in st. Louis they
also cnrrurtly Sluandercd the municipal
revenues ana then destroyed the public
records tn conceal their crimes
They "ntci franchises valued at mil
lions in return FIR b"ihe money, but for
which tn CIV r"coi vcd not a farthng
They y" St'tuted the public institutions
of tn" G ~ &c they aid of tn. State. in
Il wardiu tncir partisans, thereby i'm
pairing III" efficiency of the institutions,
and LEFT them in a condition bordering
on d cay.
They 'olmec1 the pubic service of tho
city to tny lowest level oven the mayor
being 'hn '""' hv n grand jury with en-,
b ~ ins puhl G fun Is 49, the private
secrets y-"t til" MAYOR and many other
Important Republican officials Of that
period have been indicted for perjury,
bribery, corrupt eXtortions in office and
other ofeuses, On which indictm n $ some
have been convicted. some are fighting
for delay, whln others have fed to for
cign countries to escape punishment for
their crimes.
Democrats Were Prescribed.
The party am 'ho men guilty of these
foul mlSuccds-hcing the same parry and
m, II who imprisoned women for teaching
school, lawyers and doctors for praCtis-
lnF their professions. and ministers for
preaching the gospel: who DISTINGUISHED
General Frank p. Blair and others like
him. solely because they were Demo-
Gratis; who robbed General Shields and
tolonel SwI,zler of seats in Congress to
which they had been elected, and robbed
scores of other Democrats of Offices to
which they had been chosen, and then
burned the ballots to hide the evidence Of
their frauds: and who for twenty-five
years In party platforms, In the press
and on the stump. have denounced the
state and its people. applying to them
the most insulting epithets-come again
with brazen effrontery and ask the people
to restore them to power In Missouri,
In view of these wcll-known facts wa
appeal in full confidence to all Nissou-
rams VINO honor the fair name of our
splendid commonwealth and are proud of
her high credit and great achievements,
10 reDuke at the coming elect on, by an
overwhelming ma1ortY. this party which,
while In power, was faithlcSs to public
duty and which. in the hope of partisan
advantage, has not hesitatcd to defame
tile State. to blacken its name and dis