Mexico weekly ledger., 1904-09-08
let of honest citizens must be wen


done"
There may be some who Disagree
as to these things, but on the para
mount issue of this campaign there
Is no room for dispute with good cit
liens, and by good citizens | mean
those who love their state and are
ready to defend its honor. This APP
plies to DEMOCRATS and Republicans
alike. On the great issue of this cam
paign the Democratic party invites all
honest and patriotic citizens to unite
With it.
THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE.
In every government there is some
thing that is worth preserving and
something that should be destroyed.
The Democratic party of Missouri has
not only managed the fiscal affairs OF
the state superbly for thirty years, but
in this most critical period Of Mis-
ouri's history has boldly and fear
lessly taken up the fight for civic
honor against sordid greed. The DEM
ocratic party has gone farther than
any political party has ever gone be-
fore in defying corruptionists and in
repudiating their support. The party
has dared to say, I'VE HAVE DE-
CLARED UNRELENTING WARFARE
AGAINST CORRUPTION AND HAVE
PLEDGED THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY TO HIT 1T, AND TO HIT 1T
HARD, WHETHER IN OUR OWN
RANKS OR IN THE RANKS OF THE
OPPOSITION PARTY. THE DECREE
HAS GONE FORTH THAT THERE
is NO ROOM IN THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY FOR BOODLERS. WE RE-
PUDIATE THEIR SUPPORT AND DO
NOT WANT THEIR VOTES; WE IN
ffTE SUCH AS MASQUERADE
UNDER THE CLOAK OF THE DEM
OCRATIC PARTY TO BOLT, AND
PROPOSE TO MAKE THEM BOLT,
NOT ONLY THE PARTY, BUT THE
STATE" The eradication of bribery
is the issue in this campaign, by the
side of which all other issues are in
significant. 1t Is a grand thing to
fight for a party, but it is a grander
thing for a party to fight for a state.
The Democratic party has taken up
the battle against corruption. No po-
litical party has ever done that be-
fore. Shall the Democratic party be
endorsed or condemned for taking this
stand?
BRIBERY DEVELOPMENTS.
Other cities may have been as cor
rupt as st. Louis, and other states
may have had as much venality as
Missouri, but 1t Is true that at no time
or place has so much official corrup-
ton been uncovered and laid bare as
In Missouri within the past three years..
1t has been conclusiyeiy established
that for twenty-five years not a bill
of consequence passed the st. Louis.
municipal assembly unless legislators
were paid for their votes. Combines
of lawmakers were formed in both
branches of the assembly for the pur-
pose of selling legislation, the money
going, not into the treasury OF the city,
but into the itching palms of these
officials. Franchises worth millions
we're sold for brides. These combines
would hold meetings in regular parlia-
mentary form and fix the bride prices
by majority rule. The price being
fixed, a member of the combine would
be selected to receive the money and
distribute it among the officials.
Bribery was the common and accepted
thing. Men gave brides and thought
nothing of it; men took brides and
boasted of the fact. Corruption in
Office was honored; honesty in Office
was in disrepute. These legislators
made a commodity of legislation and
passed or defeated bills for their own
gain and not for the public good. In
stead of public office being a public
trust, it was a private snap. They
outraged every sense of honor and de-
cency, and %insolentiy Haunted their
corruption in the faces of the people.
1t SO happened that a large majority
Of these boodlers claimed to be Re-
publicans, but this fact is of no i'm
portance except for its historical in
terest. The boodler afiliates with
either party, as his interests dictate.
He belongs to no party, but tries to
have all parties belong to him.
On one occasion a new member OF
the combine was present when $2,500
each, bride money, was divided up.
He was of somewhat tender con-
science, and said to his fellow MEM
bers: Are you not afraid this will get
us into trouble? this is bribery" The
others laid back in their chairs and
laughed at him. and said: my dear