Mexico Missouri message., 1908-04-30


I assert that this, promise, ne well as
cye.y otnor PROMISE ] made ~ thet cam
election. In my inaugural Address, ] urged
some measure TO give the people OF the
cities local selection Of police commis,
sioncrs with proper safe guards. A bill
was passed. which In no way answered
my recommended which proposed TO
turn over the police department OF st.
Louis through the house OF delegates Into
the hands Of the gamblers and ssloon-
keepers Of that city. with no power over
them whatever by any state authority.
Because a governor recommends meas
urc ON n certain subject that recommend.
alton does not obiiEatc him TO sign any
kind OF a bill the legislature efnets on that
subject, This measure not being In ac-
cord with my Views. I vetoed IL. just as
I would have vetoed an excise bill ut
the last session OF the general assembly
u one had been enacted making things
worse than they now are. although i ear
nvFtly urged the enactment OF a proper
excise measure 20 control lawless ga
looms all over the state. At the second
general assembly during my administra-
ton l again recommended the kind OF
a police measure | wanted ana pointed out
that II control should bc given locally TO
select police commissioners, the power
should also be reserved for some state
authority TO remove the commissioners for
failure In their duty In enforcing laws.
This measure was not enacted. Again at
the special session Of 1907 / urged the
measure and again IL was not passed Ex-
cept In one speech made seven months
before the nomination and before the ia
nous 81. Louis primary. all Of my ut
teranccs on this subject can be found in
my messages after election. i believe IN
local self-govcrninent; that is. the right
Of the people u each locality 20 select
the officials whose Jurisdiction IN limited
20 that locality. but ] do not think the
state should strip Itself Of power 20 en-
clals fan TO do 80. The right Of local
self government II the right Of each To-
cBlity 20 enforce the state laws through
It's local officials. but when its officials
can moi or viii not enforce these laws.
there II no longer local government.
Local lawlessness ~ quite a dlfIeront thing
from local government. II IL one thing
TO give to each locality power 60 enforce
the laws Of the state In that locality. and
IL IL another thing TO delegate TO each
locality the right to say whether the laws
Of the state shall be enforced there or
not.
Missouri prospers Under Reign Of Law.
In the campaign OF 1904 We were told
that Il would iniure the state 10 make
people outside OF the state would think we
were all gruftcrs. ! believed then as !
do now. II corruption exists II should be
dragged into the light. II can not be
cured by hiding II. II II more honorable
10 correct civic evils than 20 ignore them.
Has the reign OF law hurt Missouri Ev-
cry part OF the state II increasing In pop
ulation and In wealth. immigration has
Increased 20 pcr cent more In the past
three years than In the three years be-
fore that: and lands all over the state
last three years than In any ten years
before We were told that II the sa-
looms In the cities were closed on Sunday.
that ~ raCc-track gambling were stopped
and winc-rooms shut up, grass would
grow In tho streets OF these cities What
hns been the RESULT 81. Louis has grown
more during the past three years than in
any like period In her history. There
have been more new buildings put up
there during that period than In any half
dozen years prior. Real estate in Knnsas
city has advanced In value more during
that time than In any ten years before.
ST Joseph IL rapidly forging 20 the fore
front OF American municipalities. While
the Missouri Idea Of law enforcement may
not have caused all this prosperity. Il
certainly hns not been an injury. The
material affairs OF the state have not
been neglected during this administration
Industry has been encouraged and manu-
featuring enterprises foStered throughout
the commonwealth. Public institutions
have been looked after and today there
Is no state in the Union with charitable
institutions OF higher order and better
management than IN Missouri. In the
public business Of the state ! have. as
your governor, TO the best Of my ability,
applied the principles ! advocated before
you in 1904. Whether you like what has
been done or not. you alone can say.
VIII Not Embexxie Power.
When one Is elected to public office. ne
has vested In him certain powers and
these powers he takes a solemn oath 10
use for the public good. When vus the
prosecuting attorney OF ST. Louis Il be-
came my unpleasant duty 90 prosecute
some Of those who had voted for me.
They criticised me for not Standing by
my friends. My view Of the matter was
and Is that political support OF a pros
ccutor was not and should never be an
atoncnent for crime. That has been one
Of the great troubles in our system Of
goverument--gamblers grafters. saloon
keepers would support a man for offico
and expect In return not TO be interrupted
IN their lawleHsnesE. This embezxlement
Of power was denounced by me. yet some
OF those who supported me In that POSI-
tion, after falling to secure some ap-
pointment, have gone back TO the old
| theory that has caused 30 much CONVEX
| sion OF the peoples power in giving spe-
cial privileges In return for political sup
port. believe in helping ones friends
| but when II In question OF being false
70 an official oath. as the cost Of stand
| Ing by n friend. ! prefer 20 be true "a
my conception Of public duty. In the Ions
and bitter struggle for the nomination foi
| governor In 1904, an unusually large mum.
Der OF men did an unusually large amount
OF work. While great majority OF these
Were actuated only by patriotic motives
| and have asked for no office. n large mum.
Der have asked for recognition and tn,
| work they did entitle them to II. Unfor.
tunRtely the governor only has enough
enough 20 satisfy any great number. Al
the positions he hns are few indeed com
pared with those who want them. and an,
justly entitled 10 them, The result Il
| many have 90 he disappointed where
| few are appointed. II IL TO be reRrette,
| that disappointment In securing publ,
position ahould cause any one TO desert
| principle that he has fought for. Will
do not claim not 10 have made mistakes
! have tried In every appointment 10 NAL
the public welfare tho FIRST consideration
II had not stood by my friends my rea
friends who fought for the IprlncipleH
advocated. would not to-dAy have IN
opposition ] have. But I had rather b
true 10 the faith and the friends VIII
stood by me for what ] and they believe
10 he right. than 10 have the praise n
those who would profit by my being falls
20 those ideals.
A. 20 Sincerity.
My enemies say I am not sincere
! there were n question M TO my slncerit
the bitterness Of the opposition and IN
intense cnmity OF law-breakera would 10
move all doubt. In proof Of my sincerIt
I point to the enemies have made.
they did not believe me sincere The
would not fight mr. as they do. II hR
| served the lnwlesH elements with half IN
i a. ~ n - "a.