The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1909-01-15

executive officer of this great state, /
wish to express to the people OF Missouri
my sincere appreciation for the honor
they have conferred upon me, and my
full realization of the responsibilities that
l today assume. In the performance of
the duties Of the office of governor, my
sole ambition and desire will be to con-
tinue to deserve the confidence and APP
proval of the people of Missouri.
Pledges Home Rule.
1t has been truthfully said that the
problem of the cities is not only a ques-
ton that is always with US, but it is one
of the most difficult problems with which
we, as a people, have to deal. 1t has
been charged, on the one hand, that mu-
nicipal government in this country is the
only conspicuous failure of our ~civiliza-
ton, and, on the other hand, there are
those who assert that there are no evils
incident to municipal affairs that democ-
racy or home rule will not cure.
But whatever may be the truth In ref
erence to these assertions, the party that
1 have the honor so represent stands
pledged to give home rule to the people
of the large cities of the state, and that
promise, in so far as i can accomplish,
will be faithfully kept.
There should be, as a part of any home
rule measure that may be enacted, a
provision for a carefully devised civil
service and merit system by which the
honest and efficient police officer may be
assured of his position as against any
political influence.
This will remove the motive and the
tendency of the police departments to
participate in, or to permit themselves to
be used in political contests. There will
be presented to you, bills which will rep
resent my views and the views of my
party upon these questions. and to these
measures l invite your careful and I'M
prejudiced consideration.
The Saloon in Politics.
1t Is automatic that to conduct q sa-
loon is a privilege which the law confers
and not a natural right that any indi-
vidual enjoys. And it ought to be ac-
cepted without question that the saloons
and liquor interests must obey the laws
OF the state, whatever those laws may
be. So long as the state undertakes to
deal with this traffic by regulation and
not by efforts at suppression 1T should
eliminate as far as possible the evils in
cident thereto. The active participation
or the representatives of these interests
In political affairs for the purpose of
domination and control constitutes, in my
opinion, one of the evils incident to this
traffic with which it Is necessary to deal.
1t is, think, the unquestioned senti-
ment of the people of the state that the
representatives Of these interests n <
not be permitted to nominate and elect
our public officials for their own benefit
and protection. And in order that this
result may be accomplished the brewer
and the d~lstiller should by law be strictly
confined to the business the law permits
them to conduct.
When a brewer or distiller or whole
saler of intoxicating liquors is permitted,
directly or indirectly, to own or operate
or control dramshops. then there exists
a necessary combination of power that
results in the injury of the business it.
self and inevitably tends to pernicious
ana dangerous political activity and in
fuence. The evils incident to this con-
dition are so many and so manifest tina
1t is unnecessary for me to Mention them
today. Legislation striking at this evil
was attempted by the last general as
sembly, but the law then enacted has
, failed to accomplish the desired result.
/ recommend, therefore,. that YOU pas.
a Law which will secure the complete
separation of the brewery and the sa.
loon the one from the other.
Legislation should be enacted to NEE
T this situation, and. in my opinion, ever,
, club, of any character, which dispense.
intoxicating liquors to its member
t should be required to pay a license to tn,
!, state.
> No Backward Step.
There will be no backward step durin,
my administration in the enforcement o
the laws OF this state with which 1, O
those whom appoint to office, ar,
, charged with the duty of enforcing. An,
> all that / can legally do 1 will do, in ex
ecution of my constitutional powers, a
chief executive, to see that other execu
! tive oricers In the various counties an,
cities of the state do what they Shout
I. 40 TO enforce the laws which come with
In the scope of their official duties.
There can be no question of create
q importance In our system and form o
. government than that our election
" t'S vi " SApIC = IL
/, ~. honestly and intelligently their choic
! as to candidates for public office. TIL
Is true OF primary as of general elections
and this is as true of all of the condition
I affecting an election as it Is of the mat
[ ter of casting and counting the ballot
: themselves; That there have been gros
T ABUSES In the conduct of the elections l
" well known to all familiar with condI
t lions. That there has been a marke
4 Improvement in the conduct of our cleo
~ l IN tho 10 roc. ntffAo To- H.
years should only emphasize the neces
sity and Importance of completing tn
important work of reform.
Unless we nave honest elections. we d
not have a republican form of govern
ment; we do not have "a government {
- the people, for the people and by tn
people" And the casting or counting {
! a dishonest ballot in the large cities at
u primary or general election is Just q
s much of a wrong to the people of til
/, state as 1t is to the people Of the citis
l. towards securing an honest election z
i. the large cities must be found in I'll
II manner in which the police and electio
OFFICIALS perform their duties.
And so long as there shall rest upo
Me the responsibility of enforcing I'll
laws OF this state, l unreservedly plede
you today that everything win be dor
" that can be done to secure to every cit
% zen the right to cast but one ballot al
!, have that ballot honestly counted as cas-
= favor the enactment of a law /
n which the election machinery Of the sta
may be placed in the charge of bipartisa
% boards, evenly divided between the tv
political parties, as are now the judg'
and clerks os election. The necessity 4
such boards to conduct the elections
the counties OF the state is not so urgel
as 1t is In the large cities OF the state.
e earnestly urge upon you the adoption
q a law by which there may be created.
! each Of the large cities of the state,
u bipartisan election board, and I hope
d see established during the next fN
N years such q standard OF honest Ell
cheney In the conduct Of our electioI
M that their honeatx end fairness Will 4