Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-09-24

the prevention of frauds, and provid-
ing drastic penalties for those who
violate it.
Democracy has sought to make the
preparation of such crimes as diff
cult as possible and the punishment
as sure, and it now declares that if in
spite of these laws fraud is still per-
petrated at either the election or the
primary, VIZ favor such amendments
to the law as will permit the open
ing of the ballot boxes for the sue
cessful prosecution of those who vio-
late the laws provisions.
The right to cast a free ballot and
have it counted as cast is the first and
greatest right of the citizen. 1t is the
foundation upon which our govern
ment rests. "The mild and safe cor
receive of abuses, which are Topped
by the sword of revolution where
peaceful remedies are unprovided."
This right must and shall be pre-
served inviolate; iPmust be preserved
at the primary as we'll as at the polls,
PRIMARY's NEW CONDITIONS WILL
BE MET.
The direct primary was new to the
people of this State. Like most new
laws, it had imperfections that be-
came manifest upon trial. These i'm
projections the Legislature will have
opportunity to remedy. Two things
must be made certain; that every citi-
zen will have the right to cast his
ballot as he pleases, and have it hon
estly counted; and that the member
OF n political party will not be per-
mitted to take part in the nomina-
tions Of another.
The primary on the Democratic
side was holly contested. 1t was but
natural that some measure of disap-
pointment should result, but this is
far better than the situation of our
Republican opponents. They had nc
primary. A coterie of political bosses
met in secret session at Jefferson
City, and not only named their ticket
but levelled the thunder bolts of theil
wrath at all who dared oppose thei1
right to dictate. An honorable man
filling the high office of Assistant At
torney-G General with distinction, wa.
compelled by Mr.. Hadley to resign
his place because he would not bow
to the will of this political machine
1t is far better for a party to fgh
its battles in the open, leaving to tn
people the right of selection, evel
though the fight may bring som
scars, than to purchase harmony b,
servile obedience to political dictator
ship.
SMALL VOTE A REBUKE TO REPUE
ELICAN SLATE FIXERs.
The small vote cast at the prima
ries by the Republicans is an indica
ton of how little the rank and file c
the party were interested in the sue
cess Of the ticket chosen for Their
by the machine.
The Republican platform courts
comparison of Democratic and Re
publican rule in Missouri, and W
v gladly meet the issue.
THEIDARKI DAYS oF MISSOURI.
From 1865 to January, 1871, Mi.
souri, was under control of the RI
publican party. The history of thos
dark days is too we'll known to nee
repetition. 1t was the time of II
;, test oath and the Drake constitutio
" 1t was the time when ministers ar
priests were driven from the pulp
It. to the Jail because they would nj
swear that never had they held a kin,
in ly feeling for some friend marchir
nc beneath a southern battlehag; it w;
It the time when gentle women we
lis torn from the school room, convictt
IL and imprisoned because they admi
III ted they cherished in their hear
&c love for a father or brother hghtir
tn for a principle he believed to be jus
The Office of the lawyer was close
the director of the bank was cor
/. PEELED to resign from the board, al
ne the juror taken from the court ROOF
ne who could not swear under the pail
:es and penalties of perjury they h;
its never sympathized with relative
friend who upheld the cause of Il
is C~onfederacy. 1t was the time VIII
en- the best citizenship of the State w
ne prohibited from exercising the rig
IT'S of. suffrage; when corrupt local OF
lat cials elected by a minority who
-or they selected as the only citizens
dS, lowed to vote, saddled enormous BOZ
EN- issues upon many counties witho
consideration to the community.
was the time when bribery ran ri
ler through our legislative halls, and q
MS cording to the sworn testimony in t
rm courts, the stockholders of the T
ed cifc road paid STOP, 1000 to soft
lad down the Legislature" and secure t
M passage Of an act relieving that 70
,en of its obligation to the State for S
an roo 49, Ia 49, 4La 4..,,a ,xyhar, c.