Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1905-01-13

va ~ NV " ~ II'l'F-
.onal lobby heretofore has been tina 1t
vas necessary for III" protection of cor
pDratc interests from unjust legislation
and from s~and-bHgginB measures pre-
,onted by corrupt legislators. VIII, as
oar as lies in my power, sec, to 1T that
there IL just treatment, and | believe that
Z the railroads would only keep their
professional lobbyists away many OF the
troubles complained OF would be a%Hcrtcd.
1T Is sometimes hard TO determine where
legitimate lobbying ends and professional
lobbying begins, but ] appreh"nd little
nrnn c y,d In the M !,hG Ica IsinE lor @' sh"nls st n .hg
init IA lobbyist, or any one else, to urge
upon him, in private. reasons, for or
against the passage of a bill that could
not be published.
Local ScIf-Govcrnmcnt.
The government of the large cities of
The state Is n subject OF great impor-
lance. The police departments Of st.
Louis, Kansas city and 81, Joseph are
lioards appointed by the governor. This
mas been the system In our state for
more than forty. years, and changes that
rious problem. Hasty action on meas
ures intended for the benefit Of some ,po-
litical party may lead to serious public
injury. These questions should be APP
preached with a due appreciation Of
that would result from any new laws
on the subject. ! believe the people can
he trusted to govern themselves, and
'IllI u lll'Ct 'lll'0 ! BlN'll III BIINi-
lcse of selecting Their own oniclais the
people there wIll give more attention to
thoir political affairs. If It be wrong to
give local self government in the sclcc-
tiun of local officials to any part of the
state. then 1t would seem that the entire
theory Of our government IS wrong. If
tho people of these cities do not take
enough Interest In public affairs to secure
good government for Themselves, they
ought not to expect to get 1t from the
outside. 1t is insisted that the criminal
classes congrcgate In the larger cities.
and If the police department.. FOR In.
criminal classes would have an undue In
llucncc over the members Of tho depart
monts. unfortunately, 1t IS true that the
criminal and corrupt. though constituting
but a small proportion OF the entire pop
ulatlon Of tn" great cities, have "A pow
their pcrnic!ous activity. They nave TINS
influence, however, because of the inac-
tiyity Of good citizens. Local self govern
tncnt would compel the latter, IN SELF
protection. To attend to the public bust
ness. which Is their own business, after
all.
Whether there be any change in the
method OF selecting tn" commissioner or
not, tn" police departments IN an me
cites should be put qnd'r ciEii-2erNite
rules by law. Promotion -hpuld be Inc
reward e merit alone. Tn" faithful oXc-
cution of du,y ought to be- the only
gtaudard by which to Judge those VINO
guard our lives and property. As long as
The polio" departments OF these cities are
under my control as governor | intend
they shall be kept oat Of politics. Police
the trutst sense. Every member Of the de-
pHriiu'ut should nave the same rights 10
political beliefs aud to exercise them
/ freely As other citizens, but the use of
the polio" ae a machine In favor or one
side or another in political contests VIII
not be tolerated. Their duty to the pub
he must be paramount to their oblisa-
lions to any organization.
Elections.
You wtll be called upon to consider