The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1904-09-10

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
iEens, and by good citizens mean
those who love their state and ara
ready to defend its honor. This ap-
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, WE 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 B%OODLERS. WE RE-
PUDIATE THEIR SUPPORT AND DO
NOT WANT THEIR VOTES; WE IN
TIE 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. It is a grand thing to
fight for a party, but it is a grandeF
thing for a party to fight for a state.
The Democratic party has taken up
the battle against corruption. No po-
litioal 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 COZ.
rupt as St. Louis, and other states
may have had as much ~venality as
Missouri, but it 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 %conclusiveiy 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
were sold for brides. These combines
would hold meetings in regular parlla-
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
boosted of the fact. Corruption in
office was honored; honesty in office
was in d~isrepute. 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 nap. 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 inn
portance except for its historical in
terest. The boodler afhliates with
either party, as his interests dictate.
He belongs to no party, but tries to
have all parties belong to him,
On n occasion a new member Of
the combine was present when $500
each, bribe money, was divided up.
He wss of somewhat tender con-
science, and said to his fellow men,
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
fellow, why are you alarmed? Don't
you know this has been going on for
years? Have you ever heard of any
one getting into trouble about 1T
Have you ever heard of anyone trying
to give trouble about 1t? No ever
has, and no one ever will. Think of
the political power we have. Each
man controls his ova ward, or he
would not be here. Then there Is the
wealth Of the men who put up the
money. My dear fellow, don't be
anxious, no one will dare do anything
to us. W. can annihilate him II he
does" Soon afterwards the attack