The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1909-05-27

| SU4SC OI meme IUlS Was 1lIOOUCCO "
Senator Snake" Kinney of St. Louis
saloon keeper, representing that ele-
ment OF the city which really wants nc
rule. It provided for the appointment
OF an excise commissioner by the may,
or, clothed with power to do practical
ly as he might choose in enforcing the
dramshop laws. The Democratic Sen
ate promptly passed the Kinney bill
and some of the partisan senators took
occasion to say, in discussing it, that
It was the genuine home rule idea
that it was Democratic and just what
the people want. The saloon senator
was delighted. His bill got a rude
shock in the Republican House, how
ever, where real home rule bills were
introduced and passed by the Repub-
ican majority and sent to the Senate.
The House home rule bills gave to
the mayors of the cities the power to
appoint and to remove, and gave to
the governor the power to remove the
appointees OF the mayor for failure to
do their duty. To this provision the
Democrats objected. They avowed
that the cities should be given abso-
lutte, unQuestioned home rule or remain
under the present law. They well
knew that the governor would not con-
sent to measures leaving the State de-
fenseless against evils which Risht
arise under corrupt administration of
election, police and excise affairs in
the cities. AS they did not want home
rule, had not favored it in their plat
form or in their campaign, and desired
to have the cities at their mercy in
case they elect the next governor they
determined to handle the home rule
propositions in such way as to prevent
the governor from signing the bills or
else make the bills so radical that the
people of the State would rebel against
changes wrought in the government of
the big cities. It was a bluff, a poll
teal trick, shameless way of handling
a great problem.
Just abount the time when every
body believed that the home rule bills
were dead certain men from Kansas
City appeared at the capital, among
them an astute Democratic politician
and representative Of the street rail-
way interests Of that city. Kansas
City it at present under Democratic
rule, but the police board, which con-
trols the police system and the saloons,
is Republican. That board has been
Democratic fer years and has played a
masterful hand in city politics. The
governor has recently reorganized it
and instructed the commissioners rot
TO permit the police department TO be
used for political purpose. This was
a nauseous dose for the Kansas City
Democrats. WitEou: using the police
they cannot hold the city.
The Democrats in the Senate be-
came more conservative toward the
House home rule police bill after these
Kansas City men had done a little
quiet talking. One could hear it said
that the Democrats would gain by pass
ing the House home rule police bill,
as it would give them control of the
Kansas City police department, the
mayor being a Democrat, and could
not hurt them in St. Louis, which is
sure to remain Republican for four
years. It was pointed out that city
election is to be held in Kansas City
in April of next year, and that Demo
cratic control of the police department
is absolutely necessary to carry that
election
Meanwhile it had been suggested
that compromise might be reached
between the House and the Senate on
the home rule police bill affecting both
Kansas City ard St. Louis, by ce~ced-
ing TO the governor power to reAove
the appointees of the mayors unCer the
bill for stated caused only not includ-
ing political reasons. The Senate