The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1908-07-16

every high impulse that should touch tbe
neart OF man. Is 1t any wonder then
mat IN the thirty years and more during
which, in public and private life, I have
taken part in public affairs I have de-
pended most upon and been closest to the
people l have known the best? I have
sometimes appealed to them for personal
preferment. but oftener have appealed to
them for and in promoting measures I
deemed for=the puuifc good. ana have
never appealed in vain. have been
honored with the goodwill Of Missouri's
splendid yeomanry. and especially hon.
ored with the confidence of the country
democracy. For thirty years. In office
and out of office, I have been fighting
their battles, and they know it. For
thirty years l have leaned reliant upon
them. and they have not failed me-
am not conscious of anything done to
forfeit their respect, and so when I hear
1t said by those who have reason to wish
me misfortune that the country people
have turned against me, do not be-
Heve it. If 1t be true that after long
public service, as I hope and believe it
Is true, that the people resident in the
large Industrial centers of the State have
come to regard me with greater favor
than formerly and to esteem me as cap
able of representing credtably the var
ious and important interests of this great
Commonwealth, I am bound to confess
that the assurance of this fact is a
source of profound qualification to me.
l am unable to see why fact of that
Kind, IL 1t be fact, as my opponents
insist 1t is, should be to my discredit
This is a wonderful and mighty State l
have been representing in the Senate
Agriculture is our greatest industry-the
foundation, indeed, of all our industrial
activities, and those engaged in it are
the people with whom I have been most
intimately identified. Nevertheless, there
are other interests of stupendous import
whose prosperous progress is necessary
to a symmetrical and vigorous growth
Of the State. If, as a representative of
all the people. I strive to give some
thought and some attention, aye, equal
and impartial thought and attention, to
whatever concerns my countrymen as a
whole, whether they live In the country
VI NhAu Sityy WIN Will udTc u 5pSdk III
protest? Because / strive to do this am
I to be told that the people out in the
country have lost faith In me7 do not |
believe 1t. I think I know the country |
people better than those who say these |
things. At all events. I want to know |
about 1t and ]. am going out through the |
country to find out about II. And so, in /
the presence Of this great audience of |
country people, and at the very incep- |
ton Of my campaign. demand to know |
II any man here has any charge or &C
cnsation to make against me. II so I i
call upon him to speak now. do not
my this in defiant mood, but address
myself respectfully to your individual
sense Of justice and fair play. II you
have aught to say. speak now, that may I
have q chance to be heard. Do not hold
your doubt or accusation or whatever 1t
II locked tight in the grip Of silence un-
III am gone, and then spread the poison
of an unanswered charge / am here to /
md out what any man has to say against
me. and all ask 10 . chance to BE-
heard. have not gone to great city
among flashing lights and spectacular
environments to open my campaign, but +
] have come right out here among the
lain country people. my Oldest and L
Hitherto. a. hope they still are my |
bo0t friends, 10 deliver my flrst public Ii
ut4orance In this campaim. II any thore Il
- whom I hays offended. let them dsclars /
~ cAnss Of my ofIsusa.- I stand rsadyi |
20 give IN account of my uteuardehip i
E1d "a anawor any 01,6ufaoa hest y,evnnA | /