The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1908-04-16
Stone Stands on His Record.

shc I nAecd bsohe~ s-udhe, CeudsOT
Stone has given Gus the following
statement:
Il am asked TO make a statement
about my candidacy for reelection
to the Senate Tlere is lis,le to be
said. | desire a reelection to the
Senate, because | am ambitious to
serve the state and the country In
the National Legislature. feel that
my experience and large nc quaint.
snce with public men and national
affairs equip me better than ever be-
fore for successful and useful service.
1T is we'll known to every obser-
want man that wish lew single excep.
tions she Senators Of greatest inhu-
ence and power are those OF longest
service. The Senate Is a body in
which the rule of seniority In service
has strong hold, and where other
things are reasonably EQUAL prefer.
ence in committee assignments and
other important appointments lie
given to the older Senators.
II lay no claim TO the favor OF the
Missouri electorate. The Democrats
OF Missouri have conferred high hon.
ors upon me and | would have no
right 80 complain, and would not
complain, ii, for any reason, they
saw proper to displace me. Never.
theless, | think l may say without
undue egotism that In all the public
positions | have filed | have striven
to promote the public welfare and to
acquit myself with credit. l have
striven at all times and under all
circumstances TO do my duty. lhave
been assailed with great bitterness,
and In many ways.
"Stories have been told oim which
were pure inventions, and the facts
in other cases have been 80 distorted
as to constitute In the substance
nothing short OF gross mendacity;
but so far as | know, no person has
ever assailed my official integrity.
That could not be done, because my
official acts are matters OF public
record. Moreover, | venture to as
sert that no man in or out OF Mis-
souri, has ever discredited my Demo.
cracy, or questioned my party
fidelity.
"For thirty years | have been on
the firing line in all the great pollti.
cal combats in Missouri, and | think
1t safe 80 say that no man who has
figured in recent years In the public
life OF the state has received 80 few
Communications from, or been sub
iected to so many savage sttacts by
the opposition as have. Some may
think this may not be altogether to
my credit, and possibly they may be
right, but 1t at least shows that my
Democracy has been OF that stalwart
and militant type which always ex,
cites extreme hostility on the part OF
the opposition.
"While have many personal
friends among Republicans, political.
ly they have always been against me
to a man; and, on the other hand, l
have never sought or held an Office
by their favor. | am still the same
sort Of an old.iashioned Jeffersonian.
Jacksonisn Democrat, neither more
nor less. l have no platform of my
own as contradistinguish from the
platform Of my party. My platform
this year will be written at Denver
and Jefferson City. That platform,
| have no doubt, will sufficiently set
fourth my well.matured convictions
on public questions, and l expect to
fight the battle OF 1908 on the lines
laid down by that platform, and not
upon some different line OF my own.
"Thatis about all l care to say. /
have no wish to exploit my per.
sonal performances nor monopolize
In which others are en-.
titled to share. As Congressman,
Governor and Senator l have done
my best, and while l feel that, like
Othello, l have done the state some
service, l do not flatter myself that l
have ingled-hsnded, like Horatius
at the bridge, saved the state or
from the 'demnition bow.
vows
"In due time l will address the peo-
pie OF Missouri and lay before them
nv views on Duhlic nuastiona from