The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-07-18

T-TN ID VI UIoIITV UITE We mo SU0U n
gross exhibition Of bossism and machine
rule as the Republicans of this State have
furnished US in this halcyon year of the
primary. Their first step was to have
the Supreme Court declare the law un-
constitutional That was the first move
they made on the primary chess-board.
railing in that. the State house crowd
and a Few outlying lords m in
caucus, agreed upon a ticket and handed
IL out 10 q subservient following with
orders to take the dose without a grimace.
IN consequences, for all the important
prices there is only one Republican can
oluate Tor EACH 1t is absolutely 4 boss
mace ticket, covered with machine labels
from mead to foot. This Is worse than
was ever possible FOR the old conven-
there We're at least numerous deieeafes
from every county to express
ba~a ,loSe. - tnsI constituencies. But
nsIe ulusr the primary system, which
was established to give every man an
opportunity to express his Individual
ChoieS, a dozen Republican bosses plotted
together and arranged the party program
me people were not even permirted n
SIT IN the gallery as Spectators. much
less to have a voice in the proceedings-
Their part was simplytt to gulp down what
was handed them. So arrogant and om-
uatiHg 70 cross their path took his po-
iitical, and sometimes his official. iffo
m MS hand, as poor Gentry can restifv-
mith democrats 1t has been different
Ihey made the law and are Observing h.
N spirit as well as letter. The field was
lelt open, and every man desiring to mn
has had an equal chance to enter 40 not
know who VIII be nominated on the Demo-
cratic ticket, but from among the array or
excellent names before the people a ticket
IS certain TO be selected which Will COM
mand the public confidence. With an fha
II9~anaunlooatss Tor Governor my relations are
ledsant indeed, 1 may say that with
them 1 ave long sustained relations Of
PERSONAL friendship. Some over-busy mis-
enlsA-maker here and there have endeav-
orsq 70 Identity me in a particular way
with the candidacy Of Mr.. Cowherd.
hhasSS q very nigh regard for Mr.. Cow
nSrds integrity, ability and force OF
character, but so have I also FOR the
other candidates. / wish to saw nou,
one TOT an, that 1 have not at any time
sOuBht 10 promote or to retard the can
qiGacy OF any man for the G-overnorship
nave mad no candidate for Governor;
nave not sought to get any man into
the race or out of It; I have NOT 49,
tenpted to Interfere for or against any
candidate Whether others have done 81
It Is not my province to say. but sbat
nave studiously kept aloof from these nri-
mary contests I assert with the greatest
0oint ne, ana challenge any man to
polnt 70 a single concrete fact to the
contrary 1 have many warm, personal
arenas ats9 ~SuPporting each OF these candi-
oaess LOT governor, and for that reason.
as well as because of my relation "a fbs
men themselves. 1 have kept nv hands
out OF the contest. All 1 wish 10 fbat
every voter would weigh TIE
every candidate for every office ana N
me exercise Of his own good Judgment
believes will discharge the duffes - ~
oInce with the greatest dignftv- abHifv
nafaS sl4ciency. When the ticket is nomi-
nateu 1 need not say that I will do NV
tennost TO aid in carrying the party flag
A word now as to the senatorsat nrf-
mary and I am done. Judgfne nv Gov
srnor Folks public utterances he ana
ms agIeee upon certain things reIat-
1greed that the candidate receiving ne
is ya+an nISr OF Democratic votes-that
m the whole State at the November eIec-
second1v De the nominee of the party;
votes are cast on Republican tickets for
a democratic candidate. whose name is
republican votes must be separafelv re-
turned by the election officers. and cam
not De carried over and added to the
KoteS received by the candidate on the
Democratic ticket, for fhat Womb he -
allow Republicans to take part in deter
mining the issue between Democrats
candidates; thirdly, we are agreed tbat
every Democratc member of the CEN
eral Assembly will be moraiIv ho,,rd ~
use all honorable means to secS,ra ~
erection or the nominee; and, fourthIv.
are agreed that every Democratic
either house of the Legislature sbonI5
oe required before the day of the prf-
pledge himself to support the nominas
y rs % De hoped that the Kentucky
NS Tt Will not be repeate in Missouri.
ne republican Organization of the
state has apparently determines 10 cor
est the validity of this Senatorial prj-
10 they wish to contest it? what harm
san the law do, since IL only eives tba
,IgSeoIs o. each party an opportunity to
ltorI It cannot very greatly concern the
Nepuplean party In any event, for / pre-
iate Tor Senator. as il has for Governor
Yer seieotedii th erecefE: 9ad Their hoy5
LANCER OF n Republican Senator this
with the precision and care
t ought to have been, but If the Of
icers of election and all candidates shall
eek in good faith to enforce It's pro-
isions, it IS ample to serve the purposes
re technical I believe the law to be
Constitutional and in that opinion / Eave
cen confirmed by the judgment of law
Jews, one published in St. Louis and the
erence to the law and my belief in its
alidity when the question of it's valid
y was first suggested still, strange
at a later period, although l was
he nrst to speak on the subject, some
larplots sough to raise a doubt as to
~ position. OF all things the peanut
uito. is the most contemplate. I am
OF only for the law, but 1 shall certain
-epublicans persist in an effort to set
aside on narrow technical grounds,
ne people for that unworthy act. For
lyselt, / am more than willing to have
le Democrats of Missouri say at the
oils whether they desire to continue me
/ the public service.
In this connection let me add, that I
ope this campaign for nominations viii
e conducted by all candidates with
0urtesy. So far, fortunately, but little
crimony has been injected into the cam
afgn. Republicans, of course, would be
to see a bitter, d-isorganizing
ersonal strife between rival Democratic
lndidates, such as was carried on in
-entucky and more recently IN TenneS-
se, and / regret to see that some IN
iscreet Democrats here and there are
pparently disposed 70 do and to advise
lings calculated to bring about a repe-
ton of the Kentucky and Tennessee
zperienee In Missouri For myself,
nall avoid as far as possible becoming
party to a strife of that kind, and ]
DIV again urge, what I have urged be-
1re, that my friends will follow my
xample and speak, as far as possible,
offense to other candidates or
leir friends. It IS all right to support
ne's own friend with vigor, but there Is
tile need OF saying e~Nasperatins things
{ other Democrats. We must not only
S fight Republicans, not each other.
A word more and I AM done It does
le no special credit to say that IN pub
c office I have sought to do my duty
} my State and country, but Whatever
le measure Of my success, Il gives me
o claim to the sumrages OF the people.
is their business and duty to measure
ZEN, taking into consideration their ser
experience and capacity for use
II work in the particular field where
leir activities are to be employed, ana
) decide what is the best for the public
lterest. Upon that ground I am willing
} stand or fall 1 have no appeal 70
AXE for myself. The only appeal
ave to make to my acknowledgements IS