Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1908-07-16

every high impulse that should touch the
heart of man. Is it any wonder then
that in the thirty years and more during
which, in public and private life, I have
taken part in public affairs 1 have de-
pended most upon and been closest to the
people have known the best? I have
sometimes appealed to them for personal
preferment, but oftener have appealed to
them for aid in promoting measures
deemed for the public good, and have
never appealed in vain. I have been
honored with the goodwill of Missouri's
splendid yeomanry, and especially hon
ored with the confidence of the country
democracy. For thirty years, in office
and out of office, have been fighting
their battles, and they know it For
thirty years 1 have leaned reliant upon
them, and they have not failed me. 1
am not conscious of anything done to
forfeit their respect, and so when 1 hear
it said by those who have reason to wish
me misfortune that the country people
have turned against me, I do not be-
Ieve it. If it be true that after long
public service, as I hope and believe it
is true, that the people resident in the
come to regard me with greater favor
than formerly and to esteem me as cap
able of representing creditably the var
ious and important interests of this great
Commonwealth, I am bound to confess
that the assurance of this fact is
source of profound qualification to me-
I am unable to see why a fact of that
kind, if it be a fact, as my opponents
insist it is, should be to my discredit
This is a wonderful and mighty State
have been representing in the Senate
Agriculture is our greatest industry-the
foundation, indeed, Of all our industrial
activities, and those engaged in it are
the people with whom I have been most
intimately identified. Nevertheless, there
are other interests of stupendous import
whose prosperous progress is necessary
to a symmetrical and vigorous growth
of the State. If, as a representative OF
all the people, I strive to give some
thought and some attention, aye, equal
and impartial thought and attention, to
whatever concerns my countrymen as a
whole, whether they live in the country
or the city, who will dare to speak in
protest? Because 1 strive to do this am
1 to be told that the people out in the
country have lost faith in mef do not
believe #. I think 1 know the country
people better than those who say these
things. At all events, want to know
about it and I am going out through the
country 10 find out about ii. And so, in
the presence of this great audience of
country people, and at the very incep-
ton Of my campaign, 7 demand to know
~ any man here has any charge or ac-
cusation to make against me. If SO 1
call upon him to speak now. do not
say this in defiant mood, but address
myself respectfully to your individual
sense of justice and fair play. II you
have aught to say, speak now, that I may
have a chance to be heard. Do not hold
your doubt or accusation or whatever it
is locked tight in the grip Of silence I'M
til am gone, and then spread the poison
of an unanswered charge. 1 am here to
find out what any man has to say against
me, and all ask is chance to be
heard. I have not gone to a great city
among flashing lights and spectacular
environments to open my campaign, but
/ have come right out here among the
plain country people, my Oldest and
hitherto, as I hope they still are, my
best friends, to deliver my first public
utterance in this campaign. If any there
be whom have offended, let them declare
the cause of my offense. stand ready
to give an account of my stewardship
and to answer any question, but beyond
that I am not here to speak Of things
personal to myself I have no desire to
indulge in mere personal exploitation. To