Iron County register., 1904-09-22
Enthusiastic Audience Heard Him Open Cam
paign In Cole County.
Spoke at the Court House Wednesday Night to Crowded
House-Sound Democratic Doctrine On
State Issues.


period Of splendid finance" was singu-
larly inopportune. 1t recalls the darkest
period in our financial history. 1t was the
time our railroad securities were sold for
the meager pittance of S6,131 ,496, the tax
payers losing $25,604,34 by these trans
actions, some of which were corruptly
made.
The records of the United States Court
at St. Louis show that the lobby then
expended $193,64S.60 to debauch the Leg
islature and secure the release of the lien
of the State upon the Missouri Pacific
road, at loss to the people of about six
millions of dollars.
The investigation made shortly after the
roads were sold also discloses that the
Iron Mountain road was sold to the low
est bidder by the commission appointed by
the Republican Governor, the purchaser
being a brother of a member of the COM
mission.
Nearly all of our railroad securities
were wantonly or corruptly squandered,
and the bonded debt thus fastened upon
the people
period of Republican control, was accom-,
plished almost solely by the application
of the war indemnity received from the
Federal Government, the proceeds of the
sales Of railroads, and by the use of moneys
belonging to the school children of the
State.
If the railroads upon which the State
held liens to secure its bonds, declared
curity' for their payment, had been sold
for their real value, the proceeds would
have extingushed the entire bonded debt.
This was not done. Corruption was then 1el1
The bonded debt at the time of the in.
auguraton of Governor Woodson amounted
to S21, ,76S0O0. This debit with interest,
has been fully paid. The last of the out
standing bonds was cancelled on the 2Sth
of February, 1908. The only outstanding
liability is S4,39s, ,s39.42 of School and
Seminary Certificates.
The stupendous drain upon the resources
of the people of more than forty millions
to pay the principal and interest OF Inc
public debt, is the price Missourians have
paid for six years of Republican rule. Re
publican domination comes high and the
taxpayers will hesitate long before they
restore that party to power which so
shamefully mismanaged our fiscal affairs
DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN
RECORDS.
shall concisely summarize the sail
ent features Of Republican and Democratic
rule in Missouri The discussions of form
er campaigns have so thoroughly familiar
ized the people with the records of the
two parties that it becomes necessary to
submit but brief synopsis.
Under Republican rule our railroad Sc
curities were recklessy squandered and a
debt of more than twenty-five millions of
dollars entalled upon the people people aoh+ +o
Under Democratic rule this debt TO,
gether with the interest thereon, has been
Under Republican rulen although the
bonds of the State bore six and seven
per cent interest, they were sold at a
Under Democratic rule, the public credit
was fully restored the debt refunded at
, three and one-half per cent, and the bonds
commanded premium premium equal TO those oi
Under Republican rule the rate of taxa,
7 tion was fifty cents on the one hundred
! dollars valuation.
of government have been properly met
while the tax rate has been reduced tC
seventeen cents on the one hundred DOL
lars valuation, seven, cents OF whicn Is
dedicated to public education.
: Under Republican rule only one fourth OF
$ the State revenue was annually distributed
!, for the support of the public schools,
] Under Democratic rule one-third of the
] entire State revenue goes to maintain oul
: public school system.
Under Republican rule the railroads
I wholly escaped taxation.
d Under Democratic rule the railroad as
e sessment of 1904 exceeds n1nety-f0ur mil
t Under Republican rule the fees of all th'
n departments were covered into the pockets
of State officials.
C Under Democratic rule these earnings
n amounting to over onehalf million of dal
J. lars annually, are covered into the Stat
d Treasury.
taxpayers.
n Under Democratic rule business method
t. prevail, and the Penitentiary is self-sus
e tanning
e Under Republican rule there were onl
d eight State institutions. J.,
r Under Democratic rule they have In
creased to twenty. one.
!, Under Republican rule the State scho.c
l. fund amounted TO only one million, 81
If hundred thousand dollars.
r. Under Democratic rule this fund ha
increased until it is now nearly w. four an an
Is half millions of dollars. The entir
.r capital school fund Of the State, counties
d townships and special districts now as
r. gregates the magnificent total of S13,O23
lie Under Republican rule, the averae
lie yearly distribution of State school money
l. was but S161 $500, the per capita dis
g trhuton being only twentyeisghf9 Genee 5ae
1t was distributed in 1904. the average
n each child enumerated being one dolla
d. and twenty-nine cents,
al Under Republican rule the school fun
in part was diverted to unlawful uses
n, Under Democratic rule the moneys thr
" unlawfullv appropriated have been restore
rs to the school fund.
T. Under Republican rule the interest ,ipo
State moneys was perqulslte 10 Sta
so Trcasurers, adding greatly to their con
ne pensation. -
D. Under Democratic rule the interest
w covered into the State Treasury.
IN Under Republican rule county courts II
posed more than twenty millions Of bondt
ri Indebtedness upon the counties. IN mo
of cases without the consent of the tH
payers. -,
as Under Democratic rule almost this :
IL tire indebtedness has been paid.
n Under Republican rule foreign insu
n ance companies and certain other CORP
as rations contributed nothing to the suppo
hn of the State Government.
he Under Democratic rule there WAS pa
In 1908 into the State Treasury Sl.50.
,s- T91.O2 on account Of State Deparfme
be fees, interest on public moneys 'ncorp
RS ration and foreign insurance taxes be
ng inspection fees, etc, all Of which
caped taxation under Republican rule.
This is only brief epitome Of the
sentiai features Of Republican and Dem
cratic fiscal administrations.
nj REPUBLICAN RULE IN ST. LOUIS
is. Passing however, from Republican ru
ms in Missouri, note briefly the record
the Republican party In Its recent ,contr
.ed of the Worlds Fair city, under the Y
NJ genhen Administrations
Of The conditions of that great city und
,er ZIegenheinism were simply appalling.
- the scope and variety Of corrupt metho