Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-10-01
Grandes Meeting and Banquet in History of Democratic
Press Association.

i am glad TO greet mere this even
ing so many Democratic editors of
Missouri. You are the men who
make or mar the fortunes of the poll
tician. You bear the brunt of every
political battle, and when the Demo
cratic press OF Missouri is aggressive
ly enlisted in a fight there is no
longer a doubt of the outcome Of the
contest.
"Our Republican opponents opened
their campaign at Springfield last
Saturday. 1t was advertised in fam
ing posters rivaling those of Ring
ling Bros circus, glazing from every
billboard in Southwest Missouri. The
Republican press informed US prior to
the opening that at least $4,000 Re-
publicans would sing Hosannas to
Mr.. Hadley when he took the plat
form. The meeting was held in a
city of 10000 people, in an auditorium
that by actual count contained 1870
seats, and they were not all filed,
so that this magnificent gathering of
as, 1000 Republicans dropped 20 less
than 1900, and the campaign that was
thus haltingly opened is rapidly be-
coming lame and blind; it is already
beginning to receive only that pitiful
consideration the strong always show
to the afflicted.
Abuse Is Weak Defense.
1--WE arc told that Mr.. Hadley's
speech is 10 be the keynote and the
chart by which all other Republican
orators are to be guided. / trust that
this is true, for the Democracy of
Missouri can never be diverted from
political principles by a TRADE OF
abuse and a flood of misrepresenta-
ton.
mfr. Hadley deliberately avoids the
issues of the campaign; he barely
mentioned the presidential candidate
in connection with his eulogy OF Mr..
Roosevelt, and devotes practically his
entire time 10 praise of himself or
denuneiation Of me. He raises a
swarm of gnats and hopes to divert
us from that old Republican elephant
he is trying to hide in the jungle,
Democrats will not this year be di-
verted. We will shoot that old ele-
plant hide so full OF holes that even
Doctor Hadley will not be able TO
draw from that fertile fancy where
he keeps his record a salve 10 heal
the wounds.
"Mr. Hadley wants TO know what
Democracy has done in thirty-one
years of untrammeled rule. / answer
him, It has made Missouri the first
State in the West; it has built up our
magnificent school system; il has
built and maintained our great elee-
mosynary institutions; il has made
life safe and property secure in every
corner of the State; il has reduced
taxes from so cents to ~ cents, and
with this constantly reducing rate
paid the twenty-one millions OF debts
that was the only monument left from
the years OF Republican rule.
Demoeraey's Honorable History.
1T has honestly accounted 10 the
people for every cent passing through
les hands, and of $Ioo,oooooo that II
handled not one dollar was lost e
the Treasury Of the State. But Mr.
Hadley wants TO know whether ! re-
pudiate former Democratic admins
trations. answer no. From Wood
son 20 and including Folk there has
not been a Democratic Governor
whose administration has not been 4
credit to the State, and who has not
al the close Of his term deserved the
plaudits due to faithful service.
"He talks OF corruption undeI
Democratic officials. Has he forgot
ten that the reign Of corruption il
ST. Louis thar startled the country
was under a Republican Mayor, and
Il was Republican Council that hxeC
a price list on legislationf This DIS