Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1904-07-28


was read a; midnight and adopted By the
convention at 1905 this mornings
The Democrats Of Missouri, In convention
assembled at the city Of Jefferson. July 10.
1909. renew their allegiance to the principles
Of Democracy, as announced by Thomas
Jefferson and ratify and affirm the Demo-
cratic national platform adopted at 81.
Louis. July s. 1905, and pledge our hearty
and unanimous support to the nominee OF
that convention. Hon Alton II Parker
We especially direct attention 10 the hon
orable achievements % Democratic control
IN Missouri. throughout thirty years Of his
tory, extending from the administration OF
silas Woodsou to that Of the present able
and efficient chief executive OF the state.
Hon. Alexander M. Dockery .
We congratulate our party and the people
nt this state on the fact that during Demo-
hundred millions or dollars have been col
lccted and disbursed without the misap-
preparation or loss Of single dollar.
Result Of Democratic Rule.
when the Democratic party came into
power thirty yenrB ago. II found the COM
monwealth staggering under load OF debt
the fruit OF Republican misrule and yenalty
The debt then amounted to f21.763. OOO
Under economic Democratic administrn-
ton this debt has been paid on entirely
and the only financial obligations OF the
state that now remain are tho school GER
uncates, amounting 20 f4.295.S30, which are
In the nature 81 endowment for the
cause OF public education. the principal and
interest belonging to the public school fund.
A portion OF this amount was originally in
vested in United States bonds which bonds
were maturing and being called for pay
ment.
As the State has bonds outstanding on
which a higher rate OF interest was being
paid than the school fund would receive
from United states bonds, the United states
bonds were sold and the money invested in
State bonds which were exchanged for
school certificates, and these have been &C.
clared TO be a sacred obligation Of the State
by constitutional amendment. The tax rate
when the Republican party was driven from
power in Missouri was 30 cents on the 500
valuation. The Democratic party OF Mis-,
souri, has reduced this to II cents on the
500 Valuation, and 2-3 cents OF this goes
70 the public school fund.
There II no State in the Union with a.
many public institutions to maintain as
Missouri that has as low tax rate. Mis-
souri, Is the only State in the Union that
has lowered her taxes and paid OF her
debts at the same time.
Progress Of the State.
During the rule OF Democracy. Missouri
has risen to be the hfth State in the Union
In population. and proposes TO be the FIRST
State in the Union in civic honor Indus
tries have been encouraged and public en-
terprtses fostered. In material development
she has outstrlpped all OF her sister States.
and her magnificent system OF public
schools, eleemosynary establishments and
other public Institutions should stimulate
the pride or every loyal citizen.
Schools.
The Democratic party in Missouri guided
by the Inspiration OF Thomas Jefferson has
ever fostered public education. Its ideal
IS was his, is a well-articulated system Of
schools from the humbest rural school TO a
great university. During the past thirty
years. under Democratic administration, Mis-
souri, has organized and developed a system
OF schools along broad lines. and now spends
more annually for public education than for
all other purposes combined. Differing from
Ia roll f.1sa wNsaI 10
where mixed schools for whites and blacks
are maintained. the Democratic party
in Missouri at added expense TO white tax
payers. has maintained. and pledges itself
TO continue to maintain, separate schools
for white and black children.
Believing that education Is the best means
OF promoting general industrial progress OF
establishing proper social and moral prlncI-
pies and OF inspiring high civic honor we in
doTse the motion Of the Democratic legis-
lature OF 1903 In submitting 70 the voters
Of the state, to be voted on at the coming
election, the proposed constitutional amend
ment providing textbooks for free use in
the public schools OF the State. and COM
mend this proposed amendment to the care
full consideration Of the voters OF Missouri
while we point with pride to what has
been done IN the State in providing schools
for defective children, in providing them
with special technical and professional edu-
cation OF n high order and in encouraging
and helpipE every community TO provide the
pledge the state, as long Its affairs are
by the Democratic party TO
continue the work so well begun until there
shall not be any illiteracy, immortality or
imprOvidence.
Paramount Issue.
The Democratic party OF Missouri not only
stands for material and intellectual progress
but for moral advancement, and declares
that the paramount issue before the people
OF Missouri is the eradication of bribery
from public life in this State. II In not be-
cause there is more corruption in Missouri
than in other States that we are leading in
the crusade against corruption In politics
the evil has been exposed here and in other
States II has not. Through the work OF
Democratic officials OF Missouri. the mis-
souri, idea" has become a slogan all over
the land. The appalling exposures OF cor
ruptlon in Missouri have brought upon the
good citizens OF this state the responsibility
Of stamping out the things that dishonor
and Cypress. Good citizens may innocent.
ly do wrong, but federation OF known abuses
is criminal. No party can be hurt by get
ting rid OF rascals. No State can be injured
by the enforcement OF law. The disgrace 10
in federation. not in corruptinB. There can
be no grander mission in store for any
political party than to fight public evils. The
subject OF the eradication Of bribery Is more
important than any other for other prob
lens concern the functions OF government,
while this goes to the existence OF govern
ment itself. Corruption in public life II
tolerated, will lead to the destruction of free
government,
Where bribery rules, there Is n govern
ment not Of for and by the people. but a
government OF and for the few with wealth
enough to purchase official faYors. Other
ohenses violate the law, while bribery aims
at the assassination OF the commonwealth |
itself. In the City of ST. Louis. according
to the confessions OF those implicated. for |
twenty-five years bribery stalked through the |
legislative halls. CorruptioniAts grew ar
rogant and powerful. They were confident |
in their wealth and political power, and felt |
that no one dortd attack them. In our state |
legislature, legislators have forgotten their |
high commission. and have become tn
volved In the meshes Of greed Democratic
officials have exposed these conditions. ana |
laid upon the offenders the heavy hand OF |
the law. We indorBs the work that has |
been done in this regard.
We here declare unremittinE warfare |
against corruption and pledge the Demo-
cratic party TO hit corruption, and hit II |
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 boodlerB. We re-
pudiAte their support and DO not want their |
votea We invite such are incorporating
under the cloak OF the Democratic party 90 /
bolt. and propose 20 make them bolt, not /
Cnlv the marty but the State. We have conn., /