The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-11-07


the efforts Of democratic officers.
Continuing, be said: "There is
something more behind this assault
upon the democrats Of Missouri than
an attempt to nominate a particular
man for office. Whence comes this
cry that all democracy is corrupt?
Whence originated this slogan that
the fight is between bOOdlers aud
honest men, and all who do not
support a particular candidate for
governor are TO bear the brand Of
Cain? If you would find its origin,
look in the columns Of the st. Louis
Globe Democrat anu the Kansas City
Star. Since when did these papers
become the friends Of the people Of
Missouri or the mentors Of her demnc-
racy. No man can remember the
time when the columns of both
those papers bave not been filled
with the vilest abuse of the
people Of this state. 1t was in their
columns that Missouri was heralded to
the world as the "robber state 1t
was through their columns that Mis-
souri, was branded as the home Of the
moss back. To how much better ser
vice could they put their great power
and talents should they now and
then exploit the good instead OF mag
nifty the evil they find in Missouri.
They are now waging a most bitter
and relentless warfare not so much
for the purpose Of nominating their
~favorite to office, as to destroy the
organization Of the Democratic par
tv In the state. 1t has become a
fashion Of recent years to try and
teach voters and especially the young,
that there is something patriotic aud
%ennobling in the position of the man
who holds himself too good to belong
to any party. 1t has become the fad
amongst business men to consider
politics corrupt and themselves too
pure to enter into it.. The man that
does not take an interest in politics
Is no good citizen. He is not entitled
to the benefits OF a free government
and the blessings of liberty. And the
mau that thinks that a free govern
ment can be maintained without par
ty organization, that great principles
can be enacted into law without the
machinery Of a party behind them
h IS read history with little INTEL :
gence. When the party machinery
grows incompetent or corrupt the
people break it up and form a new
one. The political boss holds his
way for a few short years and gives
place to another man, but when tire
organization of parties have been
broken down, when two or three
great newspapers hold in their hands
the balance of power to sway and
control the destinies Of the State,
thea personal benefits and not party
advantage, personal profit, aud not
party victory, personal gain and not
political principles, become the guld-
ing force that controls the conduct
OF those who are welding the power.
Many years ago Mayor Abram Hew-
lit of New York said-"After the
presidential campaign of 1876 this
community became tired of what was
denominated boss rule and determined
to put an end to personal politics. But
have encountered another and new
kind of boss who has given me a great
deal of unsought advice and a large
amount of bulldozing-I refer to the
newspaper boss-sitting in his editor
ial sanctum like a broodine Buddha,
he does not hesitate to claim omni-
science and to endow himself with
omnipotence. The newspaper boss is
responsible only to his pocket. He is
as dangerous as he is despotic. He
must be suppressed, otherwise parties
upon the healthful existence of which
free government depends will be de-
stroyed and the voters will be com
PEELED to choose between newspaper
tickets instead Of party nominations. Z"
This campaign must be fought out
within and not without the democrat
ic party. The candidate will be NOM
mated by representative democrats Sc
lected from all the counties of the
state, the measure of his fitness will
be his own character and the service
he has rendered to party and state;
and the democracy of Missouri, con.
~seryative In weighing new questions,