The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-07-17

oy,ry high Impulse that should touch IN"
heart Of mIr l. 1t any wonder then
that iu the thirty Years aud moro during
which Iu public and private lIt", ] have
taken part iu public affairs ! Elvr de
PENDED most upon and been closest tu "a"
people I have known 40" best | have
sometimes appealed tu them for personal
prrrrnurnr hut 0l'"urr have appealed To
them for aid !u prumutOug measures !
deemed Tor the public good aud have
never appealed iu vain. / have been hon
orcd with the good Will ~ MssourD's
splendid yr"uaury. and especially hon
ur-d with tho confidence OF the country
democracy For thirty years IN Office
and ont OF office. ! have been lighting
their battles, and they know H. For
thirty years / have leaned reliant upon
them and they have not failed me-. !
am not conscious az ANYTHING don" T."
forfeit their respect, and goo when hear
It said 10y those who have reason to wish
me misfortune that tHe country pvOpl"
have turned against mo. / do NOT h"-
lieve II. II 1t Ice true that after 20 long
public service, as / bop" and u"Uoy" II
IL true, that the people resident In th"
large Industrial ccutrrH ut th, state have
come to regard m" with greater favor
than formerly and t. osl,'w mu ds cap
able OF representing crrl.uhly the var
ious and important Interests Of this
great Commonwealth, / avn bound TO
confess that tn" assurance 81 this fact
Is a source Of profound qualification to
me am unable to See why "a fact Of
that kind II It be a fact as my OPP
poncnts insist 1t is. should be to my dis
credit. This Is n wonderful aud mighty
State ! have been representing In the
senate Agriculture Is our greatest in
dustry-thc foundation indeed OF all our
industrial activities, ana those engaged
In 1t are the people with whom ! have
been most intimately Identified, Never
thclcss, there are other interests of stu
pcudous import whose prosperous prog
Tess IL necessary to Il symmetrical and
vigorous growth Of the State II, as u
representative OF all the people | strive
Co give some thought and some atten-
ton, aye. equal ana impartial thought
and attention to whatever concerns my
Countrymrn as "a whole whether they
live IN the country or the city, who will
dare to speak In protest? Because !
strive to do this am ] to be told that
the people out In the country have lost
faith In me? / do not believe II. / think
know the country people better than
those who say these things. At all
events, ! want to know about II and /
am going out through the country to find
out about 1t. And so, in the presence OF
this great audience OF country people.
and at the very inception Of my cam
palgn, demand TO know II any man
here has any charge or accusation to
make against me II so ! call upon him
to speak now. ! do not say this In de-
iiant mood, but ! address myself re-
specially to your individual sense of
justice and fair play. II you have aught
20 say, speak now, that I may have
chance to be heard. Do not hold your
doubt or accusation or whatever II liz
locked tight in the grip OF silence I'M
I'll am gone. and then spread the poison
OF an unanswered charge / am here to
find out what any man has to say
against me. and all ask IL n chance to
be heard. ] have not gone to a great city
among flashing lights and spectacular
environments to open my campaign, but
1 have come riga, Gu. mere among the
plain country people. my Oldest and
as ! hope they still are, my
best friends. to deliver my first public
utterance In this campaign. II any there
lie whom have offended. let them de-
clare the cause of my offense. stand
ready to give an account OF my steward
ship and to answer any question, but be-
yond that am rot here to speak OF
things personal to myself. have no de-
sire to indulge in mere personal exploit