Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-01-15
Jefferson city Correspondence.

The past week has been one OF COM
plete triumph for Missouri Democracy
the combined influence OF the dis
loyal and dishonest element that has
been seeking to corrupt the party from
within aud the malicious, vltuperative
scandal mongers aud character assas-
sins who have assailed the party and
the party's leading men from without.
10 the first instance the Missouri Legis-
lature In both its branches has taken
a decided stand for economy in the
matter of clerical help and there will
be less clerks than at any previous
session. In the second place the
officers selected to govern both houses
are men of character and ability; they
are men whom the breath Of scandal
has never touched and they are men
who deserve and will have the con-
fdence OF the public.
When Senator Frank Farris found
himself assailed on all sides by the
metropolitan press and found that
these organs might use his election to
abuse the party he withdrew and made
the selection OF the energetic Senator
Rubey Of La Plata u unanimous affair.
Ferris may have made mistakes
very likely did. Mistakes and errors
are common to all humanity, and it is
better to. have presiding officers who
have not made mistakes. But it was
not particularly on account of any
lobby record that the metropolitan
press howled Farris down; 1t was be-
cause at the last session of the Legls-
~lature, as Chairman of the Committee
on Private Corporations, he promptly
reported out of his committee, Senate
bill 241, introduced by Senator Thomas.
This bill compelled the Associated
Press to furnish their facilities TO all
newspapers that would pay for it,
and Farris was obnoxiously active in
working for the passage of the bill.
1t did not pass the House. The papers
that have been attacking Farris on
troll the Associated Press, and they
take this means of educating him.
Had the Farris law passed we should
have had a Democratic paper in 81.
Louis that is not governed from the
counting room and from the offices of
the trusts. 1t is high time this mo-
nopoly of news which means intelli-
gence, this glutton for power who would
wreak its vengeance upon any who
dared oppose its merest whim, be
forced by statute to give to any who
will pay for it the privilege of its SER
vice. Here is an opportunity to ''bust
a trust"
Another cause for qualification Is the
nomination by unanimous vote OF
William j. Stone as the Democratic
candidate for United States Senate,
The ingenuity of crafty and cunning
opponents, the skill Of experienced
political tricksters, the perfdy of false
friends, the mendacity of personal
enemies, the resources of corporate
power and the entire metropolitan
press of State and Nation we're pitted
against him In the caucus. If there
was ever doubt of Stones popularity
and power no one need doubt it now
A man to withstand the combined and
concerted attacks of the forces that
we're pitted against Stone must be a
giant indeed, although both Cockrell
and Vest at the time OF their election
we're forced to combat the metropoli-
tan press who fought them as bitterly
as it did Stone.
In striking contrast to the open
Democratic Senatorial caucus was the
star chamber proceedings Of the Re-
publican caucus. Not only did the Re
publicans 60 into secret session, but
they voted in secret ballots, so that
those who wished to prostitute their
votes could safely do 80. The result
was as expected. The Republicans
neglected their only chance in recent
years to be decent. They nominated
their regular trust candidate, the
friend Of corrupt corporate interests.
Democracy in the Legislature is
united and OF one mind, and this
promises to be harmonious but event.
full and memorable session.