The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1910-10-06
THE BALLOT
IS PURIFIED
HONEST ELECTIONS NOW HELD
AND LIQUOR LAWS
ENFORCED.
Law Enforcement and Election
pledges Of the Republicans
In 1908 Have Been Faith
fully Kept.

September %, opening the campaign
for 1910, Governor Hadley said;
one OF the most important, II not
the most important, issue OF the cam
paign OF 1908 was honest elections.
This question had. In fact, been an
important issue of campaigns in this
state for many years, But circum.
stances combined 70 specially Impress
its Importance upon the people in
1908. For ears there had existed
such a shameful condition in the con-
duct Of elections in Kansas City and
st. Louis that a republican form Of
government had almost ceased to ex-
list in those communities. Through
the control and manipulation Of po-
lice and election boards and excise
officials the result Of election was
no longer dependent upon chance. II
was estimated by those familiar with
conditions that approximately one
fifth Of the votes cast at every cleo
ton were fraudulent. Assaults and
intimidatlons kept honest voters from
the polls; repeaters padded registra-
ton lists and voted the names OF
honest citizens. and election officials
aided IN the preparation Of these
outrages upon the ballot. Police Off
clals sworn to enforce the law and to
protect the integrity OF the ballot VIC
lated the law by protecting those who
corrupted the ballot. But so long as
these outrages were committed
against Republicans alone this issue
was received with doubt by honest
Democrats Of the state, and they sat
isfed their consciences In voting the
Democratic ticket by the thought that
similar outrages had been committed
something over a third Of a century
ago by Republicans when in power.
But in 1904 a certain faction OF the
Democratic party which proudly
called itself the "Old Guard but
which Governor Folk called the "Old
Gang, used against the supporters OF
Governor Folk 10 defeat him for the
nomination for governor the same
methods hat they had for years used
against the Republicans The indlg.
nation Of the honest u nocrats Of
the state. in the country as we'll as
in the cities. resulted in the nomina.
tion Of Governor Folk by an over
wholmins majority. Under his ad-
miuistration some correction waF
brought about in the conduct OF cleo
tons. but the correction was only
partial, Many OF the men who had
been responsible for these abuses sim
remained in power and in control Of
party machinery. And when the ne
cessity seemed Sufficiently urgent
they resortcd 10 their old methods
again. And so, In 1905. there vas
another resort TO these outrages upon
the ballot TO prevent the nomination
Of David A. Bali for the office OF
governor. And Mr.. BAH charged in
public speeches and interviews that
he had been robbed of n w]ell.earned
nomination" by election frauds In
Kansas city and ST Louis. And VIII
liam II. Wallace, who was also u
candidate for the nomination for gov
eruor In that campaign 6nd a victim
OF election frauds. charged that be
tween 5000 and 5000 votes cast for
him IN Kansas City were not counted.
These outrages again impressed
upon the people Of Missouri the ne
ccssity OF securing an honest ballot
And SO when the Republican couyen.
tion met IN 1908. we gave to the peo,
pie OF Missouri this promise:
1--WE pledge the nominees OF the
Republican party to use every power
OF government with which we may be
]intrusted 10 secure every citizen.
weak or strong. rich or poor. black
or white. the right 20 cast one ballot
and have that ballot honestly count.
ed.
Let ME tell YOU how well that prom.
iso has been kept. Since / bocamU
governor four holly contested spo-
oiul elections have been hold In Kan
fus CITY; "a general city election In
Kansas city. 81, Louis and 81 10.
scph, and a general primary through
out the state: and In none Of these
elections, nor In the general primary
(Which two years ago produced such
a saturnalia Of fraud, Of violence and
OF crime) was there a single claim
that q single dishonest vote had been
cast, or a single vote dishonesty
counted. So free from criticism was
the work OF the police and election
officials In the bringing about OF this
result that the 81. Louis Republic, the
leading Democratic newspaper Of the
state, said IN its leading editorial on
August 4 1910:
"The light vote and the ahzsuce Of
contests for major offices DO not al,o.
gcther account Tor IN unexamplsd
good order at the rc.'s IN Tuesday;
after ample allr HAS been made
for these fac,I.8 rhtro remains a
goodly share OF credit which belongs
10 en- YOUNG and the organization
when lq faithfully carried out the
c-ders n1m headquarters An eier
uOl day VIII no disorders and no. 4
single arrest. deserves 10 be marked
with . viite stone IN the memories
Of The ueonle OF ST. Louis