The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1906-02-17

In the Odessa Ltdser OF last week
vas printed 40 article under the
heading IA fractional Machine
which was evidently written under a
misApprehenslon OF facts. The
editor certainly is under the
Impression that the recommendations
aud suggestions signed by some
gentlemen Of Lexington township
who we're supporters Of Mr.. Folk two
years ago and the favorable action
upon these suggestions by some
gentlemen who preferred other
candidates at that time were made
and agreed to for the purpose OF
factionalizing the new county
committee about to be elected. Such
was not the proiesse6 purpose OF the
gentlemen who made these suggestions
or the ones who accepted them, aud
there is no reason to question their
own professed purposes. The fact is,
every democrat in the township
favored somebody in that campaign,
and the suggestion Of selecting the
committeeman for this township
from the supporters OF the rival
candidates at the last lineup would
appear to be the most natural thing
in the world. 1t is coupled with a
agreement to vote together for each
others candidates for committeeman
The writer says: "What difference
does 1t make whether the committee
man was a supporter of Folk or
Reed, =" etc. Now it seems precisely
so to the parties to the agreement
which the Ledger complains Of; aid
these gentlemen agree to prove that
they feel this way about it by
supporting each others selections.
Would 1t not be better evidence Of
the unlmpOrtance which the people
Of Lexington township attach to
former alignment for them to
cooperate in the u~nconteSted election
OF good democrats who differed with
each other 10 the last contest, than
TO elect all of the township
committeeman from the friends Of
either of the rival candidates of two
years ago. And 10 order to be sure
that ther3 could be no mistake about
the harmonious cooperation CT the
democrats Of this township formerly
divided Ia preference over candidates
for governor the petitioners and their
respondents agreed to support each
other IN the selection of officers for
the committee. There is nothing
very alarming or machine" like in an
understanding of that kind. There
will be only three committeeman
from Lexington tcwnshlp-the same
number as from each Of the Other
seven townships of the county An
agreement for these three men
ID support harmOniously and
unanimously the candidates of their
township for the Craftsmanship and
secretaryship Of the committee is
nothing to Brighten the other twenty
n members OF the committee.
They a without the slightest
difficulty elect their officers from
other parts Of the county, one from
the southeast and one from the
southwest corner, II they see fit
to do it. The fact is, there has never
been any other reason for ~electing
the chairman and secretary from
Lexington township than the
convenience and propriety Of having
the seat OF the party organization at
the county seat. There are Just as
competent and worthy democrats TO
oil these Offices 10 every township in
the county. 1t has always been
found most convenient to have the
headquarters Of the organization in
Lexington, at least during the last
two months Of campaigns. There is
no other reason why Lexington has
demanded" these offices 10 the past
or should do so In the future. Lex
ington township will have candidates
for these offices this year, as usual,
and other things being equal consid-
eratlons' OF convenience and proprietY
will doubtless be considered as usual.
The Ledger's criticism OF the we'll
meant actiou taken by the democrats
concerned 10 It here TWO weeks ago