Mexico weekly ledger., 1908-10-01

Missouri. If Mr.. Hadley found that
these companies were criminals, what
right did he have to compromise the
crime? If the evidence showed
they were not criminals, by what form
OF persuasion did he reduce the rates?
II Mr.. Hadley made an agreement
with any insurance company in the
State to reduce its rates, let him take
the people of the State into his con-
idence and publish the contract that
there was made.
III he did not have a contract, but
had even the slender hold Of a stipu-
lation from attorneys, let him pre-
sent the written instrument. If he
does neither, we are justified in charg-
ing that this statement also rests only
in his W imagination, and was an
other of the dreams with which he
is trying to deceive the people. The
facts are that the records in the Of
hce of the Insurance Commissioner
OF Missouri will show that from 1904
to 1904 the rates of insurance were
reduced 2 per cent; from 1904 to 1905
the rates were reduced S per cent,
and from 1905 to 1000 there was an
other reduction of S per cent, and
from 1900 to 1907 there was another
reduction of 8 per cent; so that for
four years prior to the time that Her
bert Hadley sought to take the testi-
mony in the controversy with the
companies, rates have constantly been
reduced; and yet, with a mendacity
~unequaled, this Bombastes Furioso
claims credit of 100000 because the
companies, after defeating him in his
suit, followed the plan they had for
merly pursued.
Claim is Patiently False.
"Mr. Hadley's attempt to take TO
himself the credit of the reduction in
passenger rates brought about by the
recommendation of a Democratic
Governor and the passage of the law
by a Democratic Legislature is too
patiently false to need REPUTATION. 1t
might be pertinent, however, to inquire
why it is that if he claims for himself
the credit for that reduction he has
not likewise reduced freight rates in
accordance with the laws passed by
the same legislative body. His an
swer in his speech would appear to
be that he had decided in conference
with the railroad attorneys that they
should enforce a part of the law and
ignore a part of it, and that a Demo-
cratic Railroad Commissioner, John
Knott, refused to enter into an
agreement to ignore the law upon
the statute books, and for this recog-
milton of the obligations of his Office
he faces MI. Hadley's denunciation.
But, after several columns of
boastful claims in regard to his own
performance, Mr.. Hadley asks me to
state what ! have wei accomplished
that should endear me to the people
of Missouri. / have never thought an
honorable reputation could be earned
by personal boasts. ! have ever be-
lieved a mans reputation should rest
in the mouths of his associates rather
than his own, but since MI. Hadley
challenges me to show where / have
rendered any service to the people of
my community, / shall briefly answer
him. We each filed the Office of
assistant city counselor.
81 challenge him to deny that the
record shows more work done at less
LNP0bHC anu WIN. pNllCl lCouitS 10
the public under my tenure Of Office
than when he held the same position.
Upon my record there made ! was
elected Mayor of Kansas City, and
under my administration was inaugu-
rated the system Of parks and boule-
wards that today is the pride and
glory of the second city of the State;
under my administration then was be-
gun the fight for cheaper gas, that re-
duced the rate for the people of that
community from $I.6o to 81 per thou
sand cubic feet, saving millions of
dollars to them during the life of the
franchise.
Mighty Deeds Accomplished.
Under my administration the fight
was made against a great and power
ful corporation for municipal control
of the waterworks system, and though
we had to meet every corrupt force
in Kansas City, including the Kansas
City. Star. that is now supporting Mr..
Hadley, we won out in the end, and
the city owns its waterworks by rea-
son of the fight we made. We paid
100000 for them. We have re-
duced water rates ~ per cent, i'm
proved the service, given every year
free water to the city that formerly
cost 100000 annually, and now have
a plant worth $1o,ooo,ooo. Is not that
something to have accomplished? But
Mr.. Hadley says that after the expira-
ton of my term of office | defended
a man accused of an election crime.
| did, as he has often, defend men
accused of crimes. The man I de-
Tended was discharged. That contest
was not between political parties, but
between Democracy and an intolerant
society known as the A. P. A., that
had captured the Republican party in
Kansas City.
Does Mr.. Hadley say to the bar
of this State a lawyer should not de-
fend a man in the courts for fear it
may affect that lawyers political flu
ture? / answer with Erskine. that
when the bar is composed of such
cravens, liberty will not long remain
with the people. Upon my record in
the Mayors office | was elected to
Congress, and Hadley asks what did
| accomplish there for the people? I
am willing to leave the question of
my standing in hat body to Joseph
G. Cannon, Republican Speaker of the
House, or James S. Sherman, nom
inee for Vice-President on the Re-