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

| In and have an equal voice IN choosing
their acknowledgements: but submit that
never In our history have we had such q
gross exhibition OF boaassm and machine
rule IA the Republicans OF this State have
| furnished us In this halcyoa year of the
primary, Their first step was TO have
the Supreme. Court declare the law UNI
constitutional. That was the first move
they made on tho primary chess-board.
and a few outlying lords assembled In
caucus. agreed upon a ticket and handed
IL out to gubseryient following with
orders TO take the dose without a grimace.
offices there is only one Republican cam
didate for each. IL Is absolutely n boss
made ticket, covered with machine labels
from head to foot. This Is worse than
IL was ever possible for the old conven-
ton plan to have been, for by that plan
there were at least numerous delegates
assembled from every county to express
the choice OF their constituencies. But
here under the primary system, which
was established TO give every man an
choice. n dozen Republican bosoes plotted
together and arranged the party program.
The people were not even permitted to
SIT In the gallery AS spectators. much
less to have a voice In the proceedings.
Their part was simply to glilp down what
was handed them. SO arrogant and ON
npotent were these bosses that any man
daring to cross their path took his po-
liticai. and sometimes his official. fife
In his band. as poor Gentry can testify
with Democrats IL has been different
They made the INV and are observing IL,
In spirit as well as letter. The field was
left open, and every man desiring to run
mas had an equal chance to enter / do NOT
know who Will be nominated on the Demo.
cratic ticket, but from among the array OF
excellent names before the people ticket
Is certain to be selected which will COM
mand the public confidence With all tho
candidates Tor Governor my relations are
pleasant; Indeed, I may say that VITA
them have long sustained relations OF
personal friendship. Some over busy rnis-
chief makers here and there have endeav-
with the candidacy of Mr.. Cowherd. I
nave very high regard for Mr. Cow
nerds integrity ability and force OF
character but 30 have also for the
other candidates l wish to say now,
once for all, that have not at any time
sovyht 70 promote or to retard the cam
dldacy OF any man for the Governorship
| nave had no candidate for Governor;
have not sought to get any man into
the race or out Of Il; I have not at
tempted to interfere for or against any
candidate. Whether others have done 40
II Is not my province 10 say, but that I
have studiously kept aloof from these prl-
mary contests | assert with the greatest
confidence. and challenge any man to
point to a single concrete fact TO the
contrary / have many warm, personal
friends supporting each OF these candi-
oates Tor Governor, and for that rcagon
as well ns because OF my relation 10 the
men themselves. l have kept my hands
out OF the contest All / wish Is that
every voter would weigh the merits of
every candidate for every office, and I'm
the exercise of his own good Judgment
vote for the nomination OF the man ha
believes VIII discharge the duties OF the
office with the greatest dignity, ability
ana efficiency. When the ticket ia norni-
mated need not say that / will do nv
utmost to aid In carrying the party flag
to victory.
A word now as to the senatorial pri-
mary ana | am done. Judging by Gov
ernur Folks public utterances. he ana
1 are agreed upon certain things relat-
ing 10 that primary. First, we are
agreed that the candidate receiving the
U.s. votes polled on the Democratic ticket
IN the whole State at the November elec-
ton, VIII be the nominee OF the party:
secondly. we are agreed that IL any
votes are cast on Republican tickets for
a Democratic candidate. whose name is
printed on the Democratic ticket. those
turned by the election officers, and car
not be carried over and added to the
votes received by the candidate on the
democratic ticket, for that would be to
allow Republicans TO take part in deter
mining tho issue between Democratic
thirdly. we are agreed that
every DemoeI attic member OF the Gem
eral Assembly Will be morally bound TO
use all honorable means to secure the
election OF the nominee; and gourthly,
we are agreed that every Democratic
enhdida,e at the August primary for
be required before the day Of the pri-
mary to nublicly and uneauivocaIly
pledge himself to support the nominee.
II is 10 be hoped that the Kentucky
fasco will not be repeated In Missouri.
The Republican organization OF tho
State has apparently determined to con-
test the validity Of this senatorial pri-
mary law. regret that this is so. Why
do they wish to contest IL? What harm
can the law do. HtuEp IL only piVsa a
electors OF each party an opportunity to
express individual preferences for SEN
atorH II cannot very greatly concern tho
republican party In any event, for 1 pre-
sumo the machine will select Its candi-
date Tor Senator, as IL has for Governor
anu other state offices. and then. how
ever selected. there Is fortunately no
danger of Republican Senator this
year, II may be that the law was iot
formulated with the precision and care
II ought to have been. but II the Of
hcers OF election and all candidates shall
seek In good faith to enforce it's pro-
visions II u ample 10 serve the purposes
are technical. / believe the law to he
and in that opinion / have
been confirmed by the judgment of law
yers OF mgh repute ! expressed that
views, one published in ST. Louis and the
other in Kansas city. l declared my adj
herence to the law and my belief In it's
validity when the question OF its valid
Ivy was first suggested. Sui. strange
", at n later period. although / was
the FIRST to speak on the subject. some
marplots sought TO raise n doubt as to
my position. or all things the peanut
who is a sort OF human mos
quito, IL the most contemplate. | am
not only for the law, but shall certain
ly do all In my power to uphold It. IL
Republicans persist in an effort to set
1t aside on narrow technical grounds,
they must take the consequences before
the people for that unworthy act For
myself. | am more than willing TO have
the Democrats OF Missouri say at the
polls whether they desire to continue me
In the pubic service.
In this connection let me aud, that 1
hope this campaign for nominations will
be conducted by all candidates with
So far. fortunately, but little
aCfimony has been injected into the cam
paign. Republicans, OF course, would be
delighted TO see a bitter, dlsorganIzing
personal strife between rival Democratic
such as was carried on In
Kentucky and more recently in Tennes-
see, and l regret to see that some in
discreet Democrats here and there are
apparently .,sposed to do and to advise
things calculated to bring about a repe-
tiuon of the Kentucky and Tennessee
experience In Missouri. For myself. I
shall avoid as far as possible becoming
n party to a strife of that kind and I
now again urge, what l have urged be-
example and speak, as far as possible,
without offense TO other candidates or
their friends, It is all right, to support
ones own friend with vigor, but there Is
little need OF saying exasperating things
Of other Democrats. We must not only
nominate but elect our candidates. Let
us fight Republicans, not each other.
A word more and | am done. Ii does
me no special credit to say that In pub
lie office / have sought to do my duty
to my State and country, but whatever
the measure of my success, II gives me
no claim TO the suffrages of the people.
1t is their business and duty to measure
men, taking into consideration their SER
vice. experience and capacity for use
full work In the particular field where
their activities are to be employed, and
to decide what Is the best for tha public
interest. Upon that ground / am willing
To SInnd or fall / have no nnpenl to