Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1909-06-03
Crit cs OF The Governor.

what are the iaCtS involved SnOuIQ DC
careful not to censure the governor
for certain appointments or for GER
tain acts which may seem to them I'M
satisfactory. A case in point is the
acceptance of the resignation of a
Democratic member of the St. Joseph
Police Board, and the prompt APP
pointment Of a Republican to fill the
vacancy.
Because he was not permitted ly
the other members Of the board to
have his way about the selection Of a
number of men to be employed as po-
Llicemen. one of the three members
ofthat board, a very distinguished,
generous and popular citizen, whose
public services have been recognized
and appreciated, chose to resign.
He sent his resignation to the COVER
nor, who had no alternative but to
accept it. A good Republican was
appointed in his stead. Not merely
a good Republican, however much
that term may imply, but a good
man for the particular duties of the
Office.
What else could the governor have
done? Ought he to have sent for the
Democratic member who rendered
his resignation and begged him to re-
main on the board? Ought he to
have asked the Democrats of St.
Joseph to name a man to succeed the
Democrat who resigned? In all fair
ness, was it not the plain privilege.
if not the political duty, Of the gov
ernor to accept the resignation and.
appoint a good Republican to succeed
the retiring Democrat1
1t has been openly charged in the
St. Joseph district, and in n or
more of the St. Joseph papers. that
the governor was playing politics in
quickly appointing a Republican to
succeed a retiring Democrat on the
st. Joseph Police Board. What else
was expected? Is not Governor
Hadley. the Republican Governor,
expected to appoint Republicans on
such boards when he has the oppor-
tunity. or should his appointees be
Democrats because these boards have
always been Democratic? What
would the newspapers and politicians
who criticize Noyernor Hadley for
the st. Joseph appointment have us
think Of the privilege and the duty of
a governor elected by the Republic
cans of the state? Is the appoint
mcnt Of Republicans to places made
vacant by the resignation or the death
OF Democrats ''playing politics. or
''huilding up a machine? ?"
The truth is the Republican gov
crnor of Missouri has been very le1i-
cnt and very ohliging in the matter
of political aplointments-certainly
SO to the Democrats. Some of the
boards over which he has Jurisdiction,
and which are composed of appoint
ces OF his Democratic predecessor,
bake not been disturbed. He has
appointed eminent Democrats on
other boards where he was asked to
appoint. and had the right to appoint.
Republicans. He has permitted
Democrats 10 continue in offices from
which they couh have been ouSted at
his pleasure. He has not been par
tisan except in the matter of appoint
ing Republicans to offices which be-
long now to Republicans by every
political right and precedent recog-
nized in American politics.
1t is easy to stand OFF a hundred
miles or SO and criticize the official
action of the governor when that &C
ton is not what was expected, but it
takes wisdom and courage and patriot
ism on the part OF the governor 10
take nj conditions ay rhe,