Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1908-10-08

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 poli-
tician. You bear the brunt of every
political battle, and when the Dem
ocratic press of Missouri is aggres-
sively enlisted in a fight there is no
longer doubt of the outcome of the
contest.
"Our Republican opponents opened
their campaign at Springfield last
Saturday. 1t was advertised in flaming
posters rivaling those of Ringing
! Bros circus, glazing from every bill
board in Southwest Missouri. The
Republican press informed US prior
to the opening that at least $4,000
Republicans 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 I,34o
seats, and they were not all filled, SO
that this magnificent gathering of 25,-
900 Republicans dropped to less than
1900, and the campaign that was thus
haltingly opened is rapidly becoming
lame and blind; it is already begin
ming to receive only that pitiful con-
sideration the strong always show
to the afflicted.
Abuse Is Weak Defense.
We are told that Mr.. Hadley's
| speech is to 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 TRADE of
abuse and a food of misrepresenta-
ton.
"Mr. 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 to praise of himself or
denunciation 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 salve to heal
the wounds.
"Mr. Hadley wants to know what
| Democracy has done in thirty-one
years of untrammeled rule. l answer
him, it has made Missouri the first
State in the West; it has built up our
magnificent school system; it has
built and maintained our great elee-
mosynary institutions; it has made
| life safe and property secure in every
| corner of the State; it has reduced
taxes from so cents to II 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.
Democracy's Honorable History.
] at has honestly accounted to the
people for every cent passing through
its hands, and of $Ioo,ooo, 900 that it
handled not one dollar was lost to
| the Treasury of the State But Mr..
Hadley wants to know whether re-
pudiate former Democratic admins
trations. / answer no. From Wood
son to and including Folk there has
not been a Democratic Governor
whose administration has not been a
credit to the State. and who has not
at the close of his term deserved the
plaudits due to faithful service.
"He talks of corruption under
Democratic officials. Has he forgot
ten that the reign of corruption in
St. Louis that startled the country
was under Republican Mayor, and
it was Republican Council that fixed
price list on legislation? This dis
graceful condition was broken up by
Democratic officials, and the people
of St. Louis, without regard to party,
showed their appreciation of that sit
uation by turning the Republicans out
and installing the present honest and
efficient Democratic administration.
"He talks of corruption in Legisla-
ture halls. 1t is true a Democratic
Lieutenant-G Governor betrayed his
trust and only escaped the peniten-
tiary by turning States evidence. But
of the corruption there exposed only
one man was convicted, and he was
a Republican Senator. John A. Lee,
| the Democrat, has gone to we'll
merited obscurity, and in the con-