Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-09-17


Wednesday.
With the doors thrown wide open,
and with no fear OF the Republicans
discovering the essentials of the doc.
ument, the Democrats gathered at the
Cole county courthouse shortly after
o'clock, when the platform was read
to the convention by Senator F. w.
McAllister. OF Monroe county, chair.
man OF the resolutions committee.
Throughout n good part OF the night
and Wednesday, party leaders and
state candidates, from w. S. Cowherd,
the gubernatorlal nominee, down. al
ternated in advising with the subcom
mittee TO which had been delegated
the drafting OF the platform. Every
suggestion was received and given
consideration, irrespective OF its
source. A feeling OF good fellowship
was noticeable throughout the long
session. No one was sighted and all
united in the single purpose OF fran.
ing a measure that would be credit
10 the party and the state.
Not an issue was lodged At the
outset II was agreed that every mat.
ter before the public should be
weighed carefully and the position OF
the party candidates stated without
fear or equivocation. There was called
| into the counsels OF the committee
and the candidates leading party men,
bers whose interest in the Democracy
OF the state " we'll known, and their
suggestions were received as were
the proposals OF the leading party
nominees.
Senator McAllister, Congressman j.
]. Russell. James T. Lloyd and d. A.
| DeArmond. and o. NJ. Barnett and
Judge II. w. Johnston composed the
subcommittee. None attempted TO
WELD a whip, nor was any effort made
70 dictate without discussion the pol.
icles that were embodied In the plat.
form.
Not only Is the superiority OF the
Democratic platform over the Repub'
lican measure apparent In the planks
IL contains, but it's terseness and clear
phraseology bespeak the ability of the
Democrats. Practically every candi'
date entitled to a seat in the conven.
ton was present when Senator Meal.
lister began reading the platform
Except for stenographic errors. no
changes we're made in the measure as
adopted, and none were anticipated
SO thoroughly had the subjects han
died been considered before~their pro
mitigation.
The adoption was the last work oil
the convention, and the Anal adjourn
ment was taken on motion OF Con
gresham Champ Clark. after the
thanks Of the convention had been ex
tended to Temporary Chairman Clark
Permanent Chairman DeArmcnd and
Secretary Morton II. Pemberton. on
motion OF Colin NJ. selph. Of st. Louis
The Platform In Full.
The Democracy OF Missouri. consciou,
OF an inVuinerabie record and confident
Of victory in November. heartily en-
dorsOa. In every particular. the nRtionR
platform adopted at Denver. and pledges
TO Bryan and Kern the electoral votes o
this great state.
We point TO the superb schools In th'
State OF Missouri as a monument to tn,
Intelligent. public- spirited and sound bus
| mess nhnhAeuscnt OF kne DesnOcEANlC par
~. and ws challenge the Republicans e
:he issue which their party organs haV,
raised OF conserving the present state
county. municipal and school district Sc
curities into low interest bharinE govern
ment bonds. which would reduce the In
come OF the common schools from THU
source fully two-thirds. We favor a con
.tinuance OF the liberal policy OF the pop
ular education In Missouri and recognize
In our public school system the bulwerl
OF our free institutions. which rest upoI
the virtue and intelligence OF our PEG
pie.
We challenge the Republican party
managers and Republican press OF th'
state, who for years have charged thu
Democratic party with footing the schoo
fund" 10 point to single dollar no
honestly accounted for In the more thar
thirty years during which time the execu
tive departments OF the state were undc
Democratic control. In their many cam
paiEns they clnmored TO ''sss the books.
For nearly four years they have had con
troll OF the books, they have utterly faileS
to make good any OF these charges anC
should publicly confess them 20 be falls
End llbelous
books" IN the Plato Capitol and theI
hnding them so perfectly kept. every dol
lar Of public money so completely nc
counted for that their slanderous tongue
are forever silenced. they are put Il
shame by the disclosure Of n shortage o
| fsi 500 In the subtreaaury at St Loui
while In charge OF the Republican ma
tionai committeeman from Missouri.
Election Frauds.
The Democratic party favorS tho fair
est and fullest expression OF the voter
at the polls and pledges an earnest hn'
sincere purpose 60 protect the Integrity
/ OF the ballot. In accord with this higl
| purpose. the Democratic party has givel
| the state an absolutely impartial election
law, under the provisions Of which tn
| Republicans have equal representation
with the Democrats In judges and clerk
| at each polling place In tho state; ever!
pcssible safeguard II provided for tn
| prevention of fraud and for the secrec!
| Of the ballot OF the honest voter, an
drastic penalties prescribed for the pun
iehment OF those who violate the law.
| fraud can not he perpetrated without tn
consent and connivance OF the Judge
| and clerks OF both partiea. appointed upo
| tho recommendation Of their respectiv
| committees. IT. In spite % these safe
| M rIln frni,h a. narneirnInh Al my cleo