The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-11-28

supreme issue mn cue opFA@-
inc election in this city is the endeagor
10 redeem the municipality from cor
ruDtion and the horde Of oticeholders
who in every capacity and in every de-
p,rtment absorb the money paid for
-imnrorement Of the city without rem
dering any equivalent therefor. We
nlease the candidates that we place
before the people to earnest, active and
continuous EFFORT 70 purify the entire
administration Of this city, the iu-
diclal Offices to be governed by law
and not by political dictation, the adj
ministrative Offices to serve the people
without reference to political athlia-
tons"
With this declaration in u plat
form. we fought the battle and won
the first great victory for the Democ-
racy in a period of over twelve years,
The contest resulted in the election OF
three Circuit judges, a sheriff, circuit
attorney, assistant circuit attorney
coroner and public administrator
These officers were all elected by prac-
tically the same vote excepting the
sheriff. who ran far ahead of his tick
ct. No one will say that any Of the
Officers whom l have just mentioned
have not performed their duties well
and faithfully. No one will dare say
that they have not co-operated in the
,,,c,iy Of good government
Continuing the reform work of 1900,
the Democrats nominated in the spring
of 1901 the Honorable Rolla Wells as
their m%ayoralty candidate. The stu
alton in this election was entirely diff
ferent. however, from the election OF
the preceding fall. A three-cornered
fight early presented itself. MI. Meri-
wether called a most remarkable con-
vention to which his delegates were
not elected but appointed, and each one
of whom took a pledge to support MT.
Meriwether even after his agents had
appointed them as delegates. The con-
ventioE of these appointed delegates
met and nominated Mr., Meriwether for
a v on an independent ticket. He
was placed in the field first, prior even
to the Democratic or Republican pri-
maries. 1t was believed at the time
that he would poll a large Democratic
vote. 1t ultimately developed, however,
that he polled a much larger Repub-
lean vote.
With Mr.. Meriwether already in the
field. the Democratic leaders were con-
fronted with a perplexing problem.
Long and earnest discussions were held
about the availability Of different men
for the nomination of mayor. 1t was
pointed Cut that the Meriwether boil
Git being the second time Mr.. Meri-
wether had bolted the party) would
make it impossible to elect the Demo
cratic candidate, unless he could Sc
cure the solid business support OF al
the Democrats of the city together witt
the independent vote. A number o.
names were convassed, and it wa
finally thought advisable to nominate
that splendid citizen and noble st
Louisan, Rolla Wells.
The past political record of Mr.
Wells, from a partisan standpoint, wa
Lot good, as he had twice declined t
vote TIE National DtmOcratic ticket
but the political exigenciAs required tn
nomination of a man Of his bushes
stand,l a and freedom from politica
alliances ia order to def.at Z"iegenhein
The Dle paramount question was tn
driving out of power the corrup
ziegenheln gang and placing in thu
mayors chair a capable, honest citizen
All other questions in this strictly mu
nicipal campaign were secondary am
subserYient to this main one. A con
yention was called and a contest wa
had before the city Democracy
Wells's delegations carried twenty-five
out of twenty-eight wards in the city
r When the convention met he was nom
s mated without opposition.
= Party Democrats almost unanimous
: ly rallied TO the support of the tickle
b and supported it Loyalty. Senate
+ George G.. Vest, in a signed interview
= speaking of Mr.. Weiss nomination
e said:
d "He is a gentleman of high char
d acter, honest, capable and energetic
It and will give the city a clean an
IS efficient administration. 1t is of tn
=. greatest Importance that st. Lou
n should be in the best possible cond
.e tion when the exposition is held, an
n no one who knows Mr.. Wells wi
1t doubt his ability to do everything net
y essary to accomplish this result. H
'r has been, as | understand, regularl
II and fairly nominated by the Demt
Is cratic convention and is therefore Ell
is titled to the support Of every 10y
Democrat. 1t is charged that MIR. Wei
le did not vote for Bryan in 1896 an
D. 1900, | know nothing about the trut
% of these charges, but if true they
E. not constitute sufficient reason for al
Democrat refusing to support him no
Oh as the regular nominee OF our party
Us Further in the same letter, he SAT-
1T When the nominee has been fair
chosen and the only charges again
e him are such as those now ma
against Mr.. Wells, there is no ~justihc
u ton Of any individual Democrat refu
ing to give the nominee his support"
al This declaration, coming from I