Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-10-01

cease. In this connection, | FAVOR the
OF a statute forfeiting the
franchities and rights Of any corpora
ton which is guilty OF bribery. | go
further and advocate the enactment
Of a statute. or IL necessary, an
amendment TO the constitution, for
feiting to the State the property OF
the corporation 50 convicted. 1t gees
without the saying that the processes
OF the Criminal Courts should De
used against every institution or IN
diyiduai. however great or powerfuis
guilty Of bribery.
NOT NEW FORMED OPINIONS
These are my opinions. They are
not new formed notions. Perhaps 1
may be pardoned for stating as the
ground of my belief that the lobby
can be- driven from the State Capitol,
the experience Of Kansas City. The
reference is somewhat personal and
possibly could be better stated by
another; but l disclaim any special
credit. I simply performed my duty
as | understood IT and would have been
untrue to my constituents and to my!
self had | done less.
Very briefly then. Kansas CITY
once had a powerful lobby. 1t was
old and experienced and had IN.
fluential adherents, the support or
two great newspapers, and was back
ed by more than $50, 600, 900 OF cap
ltal.
A few hours before the newly elect
ed democratic administration took OF
flee In 1900 the old Republican conn
ell extended the franchises OF the
Street Railway Company to twenty
five years, and undertook to release II
from the obligations of its former con-
tracts. Fortified behind these grants,
the company defied interference. Inc
contest between the lobby and the
city lasted for more than two years
and forced me to stand for reelection:
The result in the end was a complete
triumph for the people. The street
Railway Company Of Kansas City now
pays into the city treasury 8 per cen
of its gross earnings. The best esu.
mates place the amount to be paid
| during the term of its franchise at
more than $1,000, 900 in excess o.
what was required under the terms OF
Its franchises granted by the RepuD-
iican city administration. The com
many has agreed to do street paving
| which will cost, during the life OF It's
franchise. not less than 100000. 1t
has given universal transfers. 1t con-
tracfed to expend millions In the con-
| struction of extensions and in pro-
yiding modern equipment and IL
agreed to do many other things 70
which I will not refer. The result
of these contests is that b lobby
has disappeared from Kansas City.
I have been accused of painting the
landscape and describing the beauties
If Missouri sunsets. The after dinner
speech quoted from was made two
wears z in the State OF Virginia,
when I responded to the toast mis-
souri, still stand by what then
said, | know 1t is not pleasant read
ing for those who hate Missouri. But
sirs. I would rather paint Missouri
landscapes and girdle them with sum-
mer's choicest flowers and rarest
fruits; I would rather sing the praises
OF her yirtuous mothers and honest
aires. than to describe her as a morass
~ iniduity, exhaling the foul stencil
lof crime. ever though | could see
aproutiug from that same swamp the
fairest flower of my ambition.
I would rather praise than denounce
nv State. / prefer the office OF eulo'
eist TO that OF detractor. No n OBJ
iects TO the plain truth being told.
| No n wants to hide a crime OF
shield a single villainy, but do pro
test against the charge that the Gen
eral Assembly as a whole is rotten
and corrupt, because four out OF lIa
stand accused.
I do protest against charges SC
framed as to reflect upon the entire
Democratic administration which mas
rendered honest service. 90 pro
test against those who bespatter with
~slanderous filth the ermine OF the
Judges of our courts, because they
J have declared that men shall be tried
according to the forms oil law.
I emphatically protest agains'
charges so vague that reply Is i'm
possible. yet SO general and sweeping
as to give the impression that Mis-
souri, is a den of iniquity in which
. the serpents of corruption make theii
! home, and honest men cannot b
found.
The Democratic party has givei
i Missouri good government The grea'
mass Of Missouri's officials have beer
, incorruptibie. No n should india
/, criminately condemn the innocent witt
the guilty or seek to profit BY. as
pensions upon the characters OF hon
{ est men. We need not despair.
The world yet holds its course; tn
= seasons come and CO.; the people still
. will do their duty by the State, am
. honest men can still be found. Tn
| grand old State is safe. We meet
9 not yet adopt the philosophy I IN
0 ~Scotchman who said, "Sandie, hav'
concluded that there are but two hon
est men in the world, you and me
!. sandie. and somes time, Sandie,
p doubt you"