Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1910-03-03
COL. CLAY ON STONE
HADLEY CONTROVERSY

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Mexico, Mo-, March 2, 1910.
Editor of LEDGER
Dear Sir;
The Stone Hadley controversy ali
arose from Gov. Hadley's appear
ance in the recent canvass of the
9Th District.
Towards the close Of his canvass,
abandoning the defense of his par
ty's record on the Tariff and other
live issues, he resorted to the we'll
worn tactics, which made him gov
ernor, of trying to foment discord in
the ranks of the Democrats, by as
sailing at that late day the honesty
of Senator Stones election to the
Senate.
The personal incentive was because
Stone had exposed Hadley's extray-
aganoe in the executive office, such
as the unprecedented charging the
State with the board of his own
servants, purchase of carriage, trav-
cling expenses, etc. The political trick
to be turned was to prick Gov.
Folks friends into taking up the
issue and thus divide the Demo
Gratis.
The impudence and insolence OF
this assumed guardianship Of Gov,
Folk and the Democratic Party's
nomination was the climax of brazen,
overweening egotism, and met with
stinging rebuke by the overwhelm.
ing vote in that District
Senator Stone took up the charge
against himself and asked for q
"bill of particulars" Hadley replied
by offering as evidence his informa-
tion from the Election Commits
sioners of st. Louis, and members of
the Legislative Committee which
made the recount in the 1t. Gov
ernor's contest. Stone came back
with the formal denial by each and
every one of the members of the
Legislative Committee, Republicans
as well as Democrats, that they had
not given the Governor any such in
formation. And as to the Election
Commissioners, whom Hadley stated
assisted in the recount, they were
not even allowed under the law
to be present at the recount, and
were not.
The next shift Of Hadley was to
banter a recount Of the ballots, If
Stone and Folk would give their con-
sent, and on condition If any fraud
ulent ballots were found in favor OF
Stone, Stone was to resign and he
would appoint Folk Senator.
Folk replied he would give his
consent to recount but would not
accept an appointment from Had
ley.
Stone also consented to recount
if il could be legally done, and sug-
gested Hadley's vote should also
be counted at the same time and If
fraud were discovered in his vote,
he should resign. Hadley then
dropped the proposition, rs he must
have known, even from the first,
that the Constitution and the law
stood in the way of any opening of
the ballots with or without any
body's consent. The time for even
a judicial contest had expired, and
: the Legislature by formal action
had elected Senator Stone. One
branch of this Legislature was Re-
publican, and Gov. Hadley, Re
publican, had signed Sen. Stone's
commission-all of which made the
proposal supremely ridiculous.
Driven from this position, Hadley
next threatened an extra session OF
the Legislature-mind you there was
no contention or issue between the
political parties, but simply the graf
uituos guardianship or inter-meddline
of the Governor in the accepted ac'
tion of the Democratic party in its
nomination for Senator. 1t must
have at last dawned upon the Gov.
ernor, the absurdity of this threat
ened expense to the people, as his
next announcement was he would
refer the whole matter to the next
Legislature, and requested, il legal
the election commissioners to hold
the ballots (Which the law required
to be destroyed II months after the
election) until the next Legislature
meets. Does anyone doubt what
that legislature would do to Had
ley upon his official message in ODE
dience to this promise?
Now, as a last tumble, he threat
ems a libel suit against the Repub
lie for accusing him of participating
with the election commissioners IN
violating the law. His demand fol
retraction the Republic very adroit
ly prints i'm large type on its from
page with a picture of the Govern
or which it hangs, as it were, on
the outer wall On the editorial pag'
the Governor gets a soothing re
traction. So ends his last boas
and the shameful fiasco of a schem
ing politician in the executive chat
of a great state.
The only crumb of comfort TO
Hadley grows out of; When h
charged fraud In stones election
he also accused him of voting in th'
Senate to increase his own salary
Upon this charge Stone laid hi
branding iron as "untruth No. A..
The consolation Gov. Hadley de
rives is the discredit it attracts t
Sen Warner, who voted for the in
crease of salary, while Stone vote'
against it, which helps to open tn
way for Hadley's candidacy for tn
nomination with his party for tn