Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1903-06-10
Clean Sweep a Necessity.

Missouri is governed by ring,
not by Il party, ia any popula,
sense. The mass of the Democrats
have AS little to say about public
affairs as have Republicans. After
thirty years OF uninterrupted con.
troll large assortment Of degcnc.
rates have seized upon the state
government and are running ii, in
conjunctions with monopoIists, as
a private snap. Evidence on this
point has been heaping up, and the
trials of the boodling senators will
add to the revelations. For many
years Democratic leaders, ring
sters referred to, havo been accept
Ing large cash contributions from
trusts in exchange for legislative
favors. This system of buying
the law-makisg powers of the state
is extremely profitable to the
trusts, which, it is safe to say,
make 500 for every 81 they invest
in state officials, members OF the
legislature and chairmen of the
Democratic state committee. The
nature Of the degeneracy may be
Judged from the resignation Of the
lieutenant governor, the numerous
indictments of Legislators, and the
immense descent from Senator
Vest to Trust Agent Stone, the in
ventor, to fool the people, of the
sham health society.
Lieut.. Coy. Lee did not resign
because he was any worse than the
average Of the state machine, with
which he had long been associated,
and which originally tempted and
contaminated him. Lee was more
nervous than his ring confederate.
in office. He was more emotional
and had a remnant of conscience.
He lacked the eold-hlooded impu-
tience OF the others, who are still
standing pat. Lee was a respect
able and useful man until he was
led astray by the all pervading, tri-
umphant corruption of the state
machine. AT the beginning of the
recent session Lee and State Sena-
tor Farris had quarrel over the
inside Of the ring. Lee is out and
Farris is under Indictment in two
counties and St. Louis. Farris al
so, who is comparatively young
man, was inoculated by the state
ring that reeked with rottenness
long before he entered politics.
That cesspool at jefferson City,
now uncovered and filling the state
and other states, with its mcplitlc
poison, has corrupted its tens OF
thousands, and its results will be
the same as long as it exists.
Noxious weeds are torn up by
the roots. Malarious swamps are
thoroughly drained and purified.
Pestilential cutters are cleaned and
disinfected. In these cases as with
the knife of the surgeon, no part
of the virulent evil is allowed to
remain uneradicated. The people
of Missouri, all those who want
honest state government, have g
similar duty to perform. Unless
the state machine is destroyed alb
solutely, cast ont as a whole, there
can be no promise of escape from
the ringsters. Their whole train
ing is in venality. Their only
thought is of selfish machin,
! schemes. Boodling is their bust
ness. They know no other. As .
St. Louis grand jury has just said
1.-The extent of the venality exist
ing among the makers of our stat
laws is alarming to those who be
lieve in free government" There
stands warning from a jury o
we'll known, impartial citizens, af
ter listening to the evidence TO
two months.
1t is the duty of Missourians t
stamp ont the machine in its intir
ctv.-Giobe Democrat.