The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-09-20

| root of the cancer. The corrupt lobby
must be driven from municipality, State
and nation. Only July 4. in a public
| speech, said this and added. Worse than
the brlbe-taker Is the bribe-giyer. because
more dangerous stand upon that state
ment.
Back OF all boodlng is the effort Of
some one to gain an unjust privilege, or
! escape a lust demand either through leg
| islation or the Iassitude or ignorance of
| some officer. Accordingly, the officer or
| legislator is cajoled with hattery; awed by
power a or may even be corr SorTu2ted' ta3 IN any
The existence OF an organized lobby
| at the State Capitol during the recent ses-
sions of the General Assembly. is mat
ter of common knowledge. Ostensibly.
this lobby was engaged in protecting the
railway corporations from what they We're
| pleased TO term unjust legislation. The
charge has been publicly made that these
legislative agents inspire bills. attacking
various business interests In order TO com
pei their employment to prevent the en-
actment into laws of the very measures
Nor are they thus satisfied. When
wholesale legislation is proposed by an
honest legislator. these wolves are ready
to pounce upon il, and, by preventing Its
passage. compel If possible, its honest
author 10 withdraw his opposition TO some
unjust measure. in order that his own bill
may .!S pass. ass roon,.r. of ,,. ,ohnv soon ha-
come mere Hessians, ready for any EN-
ployment, experienced in evil. skilled in
deceit. 1t is but necessary that they find
few plant tools among members OF the
Legislature in order to exert powerful
influence upon legislation
They become the purveyors OF legisla-
tive poison. They tempt the weak; they
conspire behind closed doors and plot
while honest men sleep. They combine
the cunning Of the fox. the appetite of the
wolf and the subtlety Of the spider with
n hVnna
I have been accused Of painting the
landscape and describing the beauties of
quoted from was made two years ago in
the State of Virginia, VIXEN l responded
10 the toast Missouri l still stand by
what 1 then said. 1 know it is not pleas
ant reading for those who hate Missouri.
But. sirs, I would rather paint Missouri
landscapes and girdle them with summers
choicest flowers and rarest fruits; /
would rather sing the praises of her vfr-
tuous mothers and honest sires, than to
describe her as morass of iniQulty, ex~
haling the foul stencil Of crime. even
same swamp the fairest flower Of ambi>
ton.
Il would rather praise than denounce
to that Of detractor. No one objects to
the plain truth being told. No one wants
10 hide a crime or shield single villainy.
but I do protest against the charges that
the General Assembly as whole is rot
ten and corrupt, because four out of ia
stand accused.
REEDS CANDIDACY.
IN what I now have TO say I address
myself solely to those who believe in the
principles of Democracy. and who are
loyal to its teachings. 1 shall not seek the
nomination to the high Office of Governor
of this great State at the hands OF any
political organization except the Demo-
cratic party.
Il expect no support for this nomina-
ton save from those Democrats who pro-
pose to preserve the party faith and tho
party supremacy. / do not claiIS to be
better than my party. l will not subordi-
which am proud to belong to any per-
sonal ambition.
II should regard my Democracy as of
poor quality If I were to obtain great pop
ularity in a Republican convention or en-
thusiastic support from the anti-Demo-
cratic press. / am neither the champion
OF dihorganiZers nor will I consent to be
championed by disorganizers
Il have back Of my candidacy no power.
ful combination of men who, during re-
cent cent casmpsaigns. ss pal have been mt the open enc.
time engaged in a conspiracy to turn over
tie Democracy to those VINO clan1or for
reputation of party platforms and 70,
national reorganization. My political for
tunes have never been syndicated, and
they will not be syndicated In this cam
paign.
dHu HUI upOu q Single H.
sue, but intend TO stand upon the Demo-
cratic platform and advocate its every
plank"
Incidents of the visitors are causing
some comment tonight. Coming down on
the Reed special, Alexander s. Rankin,
secretary for the Jackson County Demo-
cratic Club, reported to the five police
men on the train that his pocket had been
picked of $50. After the meeting Vincent
Crowley, brother OF Kansas City city
employe, was arrested for fourtshing a
knife in q street brawl