The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-09-12
PROCLAMATION OF GOVERNOR STONE.
Calling Special Session Of ,sth General Assembly OF Missouri
STATE OF MISSOURI
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
JEFFERSON CITY.

pose of influencing legislative action. Encouraged by a seeming
lack of public resentment atther presence, and e%mboldened by
repeated successes, these lobbyists have from year to year in
creased in numbers, influence and audacity until they have become
an almost dominating force in legislation. So confident have
they grown in their strength, and SO potentin influence, that they
row ply their vocation almost without disguise in defiance of
public authority, and in utter contempt of public opinion. 1t has
come to pass that almost every important measure Of legislation
must undergo the scrutiny of the lobby before its fate can be de-
termined. What it approves is not without hope, but what ltcon-
dennis is lost. Perhaps the most conspicuous Mustraton OF Uls
disgraceful domination is to be found in the treatment accorded
the so-caled felowseryants' bill. I do not now discuss the mer
its of the measure, l refer only to the means adopted to suppress
and defeat it. Those means have been so generally discussed III
the press of the state, and the people have thus become so famll
ar with them, that | deem it unnecessary to restate them IN
detail.
Anumber Of Senators and Representatives, as well as many
good citizens who have felt appalled, at the Overshadowingl nhu
ence and Inundated at the triumph of the lobby, have pressed
upon me the importance of RECOMMENDING the General Assembly,
to the end that the issue may be fairly presented and an open
test made as to whether a just Legislative measure of this character
can be enacted into law in spite of the communicating influence OF
those who openly boast their ability to direct the current OF leg
isation. These are strong words, know, and | write them with
the keenest regret. But it is clear to me that the time Tor mild
protest is past. We are confronted by the question whether the
people or the lobby shall rule in Missouri. The public safety and
the honor of the State are at stake. Every Senator, member,
public official and citizen familiar with the truth knows that these
words are justified by the situation at Jefferson City. l believe
the condition of affairs to which l have adverted is alone suthclent
to make it my imperative duty to recall the Senators and Repre-
~sentatives elected by the people in special session to consider the
particular important subject of legislation to which have re-
ferred, which has been so long delayed and so often defeated oy
influences dangerous to the public right, In this way it can be
considered free from the multitude of other p~erplexng questions
incident to a regular session, and thus every Senator and Repre-
sentative can be afforded unhampered opportunity to discharge
his duty to his constituency with the greatest deliberatlon ana
intelligence.
But there is another question of the most commanding import
ance. the proper settlement of which should not be delayed. | re-
fer to the laws governing elections liz st, Louis and Kansas City
In the preservation of a free representative government nothing
is SO important as the purity of the elections. Generally through
- AIA. CArko 7 go 'opap haTaOfppiZpd ID lQ1
integrity. But, unfortunately, this is not true in the larger cities
til known that gross frauds have been committed IN those CUES
The inducement and opportunity for corrupt practices IN large
populous municipalities are great and experience proves tina
dishonest men of all parties have not been slow to debauch the cleo
ton franchise. Not few consumate and uastardly outrages hav
been perpetrated. Candor will compela general admission ina
the disgrace of election frauds is fairly divided between the al
herents of the different political organizations. The truth oil thu
statement is made evident by the fact that both Republicans ant
Democrats, so called, have been recently indicted in St Louis AM
Kansas City for active participation in such frauds. In one Oh 0n
wards in Kansas City, which has a boss" so conspicuous ano pc
tent that the ward is currently referred to as his ward, there ar
twice as many voters registered as there are adult males resldln
therein. This boss is a noted republican politician. In the sam
city it is well known that election returns have been fraudulent
changed in the Office of the Recorder of Voters, so as to alter tn
result at the polls as certified by the judges OF election. In
officer under whose administration this crime was committed wa
a Democrat.
When such wrongs are not only possible but are actually an
boldly committed, it is evident that the public safety imperatvel
requires such change in the law as will not only terminate exls
ing abuses but prevent their repetition in future. This is a que
ton which affects the rights and interests of the people OF u
entire State almost as vitality as it does the people OF the cu'
Immediately concerned, When we reflect that about one1ourth
the total population of the State reside in St Louis and hans
CITY. and consider the tremendous influence which those clu
can exert in the election of national and state officials, and on u
Legislative policies of the State, no thoughtful or patrlotlc cluz
can be oblivious or Indifferent to the paramount importance
vigilanAy guarding the ballot box against every description
fraud and crime.
Therefore. in view Of the premises, and by virtue of authori
in me vested by the Constitution of the State of Missouri
William J. Stone, Governor to the State OF Missouri, DO mere
convene the Thirty-eighth General Assembly of the State OF MI
ouri in extra session and l do hereby call upon the Senators a
Representatives of the General Assembly aforesaid to meetln tn
respectiye riaces in the capital, in the city Of Jefferson, at
hour Of - o'clock noon on Tuesday, the 2Srd day OF April a.
1895, for the following purposes;
FRsr-To enact such legislation as may be necessarya and ex
dent to properly define the relations between ee aHeren1 Ia