The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-12-24

souri, have called ME. ] shall give TO my
State the best efforts of my heart and
brain. l shall be Governor for all the peo-
pie of eve.y creed and political belief. The
welfare of Missouri shall ever be the high
est and first consideration. When private
interests. personal ambition or party ad-
vantage conflict with public good, the lat
ter shall prevail. There shall be one heart
in all that | do ana that shall be the
heart OF Missouri. Missouri Is n great
State and deserves the best government
that man can give.
My tine has been occupied since the
election n endeavorins TO work the math
fees among 1850 applicants. Fortunately.
however most of the applicants are sim
ply volunteers for the public service: they
are willing to serve. IL need be. but are
not anxious for place. The political fight
we have just passed through has been for
principle. aud not for spo!ls. go into the
governorship absolutely untrammeled by
promises or embarrassing obliga tons; and
II do not appoint the best men 1t will be
because | cannot get them.
Il received many thousands of Repub-
lican votes. but not one has applied for
appointment. except to the places the law
requires Republicans to fill. This is not
because they have lost their appetite for
office. as in the position to which, under
the law. Republicans must be appointed
the number Of applicants 10 teh places to
be filed is in the ratio of sixteen to one.
They voted for me. n Democrat, knowing
me to be Democrat. and ask nothing in
return, except good public service. That
much they have the right to ask-less
than that no true Democrat will demand.
Il told the people of this State that /
would do my best TO put stop to bribery
In Legislative halls land am going to keep
that promise and every n, other promise !
corruption will go on. l have no favoCs
to ask OF corruptionists, and none to give
them, and no compromise to make. | do
to give or take hribes in the face of all
that has been done. but II there be any
thing of that kind there is going to be
trouble.
FORGETTING FRANCHISES.
Not only viii every effort be made to
eradicate civic evils. but everything that
can be done to advance the material well
fare of Missouri will be done Every in
terest Will receive all the rights the law
gives, but no more. The capitalist shall
have the same justice that is Civ. the
humblest workingman but neither shall
have special privileges. That much all
are entitled to-more than that none shall
receive.
There arc many things to be considered
that my time will not permit me TO emu
nerate here. even II It were appropriate
to do so.
Among the measures applicable to st.
Louis might bo mentioned one to forfeit
all franchises obtained by bribery, no
requiring all franchises to be sold at pub
lie auction and giving thirty days before
confirmation of sale for anyone TO raise
the bid; the police departments Of all the
cities in the State will be conducted with
out regard to politics: members of the
departments have the same right to polit-
ical beliefs as other citizens. but the use
Of the department as a machine in favor
Of one side or the other in political con-
troversies should not be tolerated. They
should be COnservators of the peace IN the
nllhlic
tion.
II SO that every Democrat, every Repub-
lican. every man of every party, shall
have the right to go TO his polling place
and cast his ballot without Interference
and to have it counted as cast. and no
more counted than are cast. Under the
present laws the responsibility will be on
the Governor of securing fair and honest
elections through his appointees. l shall
accept the responsibility and protect the
free exercise by every citizen of his right
to vote. There should be home rule, as
far as practicable, on all questions, and
local option on tax valuations for local
purposes
With few exceptions. however new
laws are not needed as much as ieform
in the administration of the law we have
IheTe has been too much tampering with
the laws in the effort to correct wrongs
that do not arise from the infirmity OF the
laws. but from the feebleness of their
execution. An imperfect law, well admin
istered. is far preferable to a perfect law
badly carried out. The law is merely
weapon in the hands of officials. without
officials laws would be as useless as can
non in war without men. Good govern
ment depends more upon the man behind
the law than on the law itself.
Public sentiment should demand the
enforcement of all laws on the statute
books. Disregard of one law breeds dis
respect of all law. If the law be bad the
remedy is to repeal not to ignore. Good
men will observe even bad laws, but bad
men will break even good laws. It should
be so that all men. good and bad be com
PEELED to keep all law. good and bad be-
cause it is the law.
CORRECTING CIVIC EVILS.
Civic evils cannot exist il the public
conscience is aroused. Indeed. nearly all
public wrongs grow out of the indifference
of the people. There are many who thrill
with patriotic fervor at the thought of
going to war and risking their lives for
their country, but who forget to vote on
election day. Inc patriotism of peace is
just as necessary as the patriotism OF
war. Plenty Of men Will die for their