The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1910-10-20
A QUESTION OF RECORDS.

AS between two Democratic candi-
dates The Times has always endeav-
ored to be absolutely fair and impair
tial, and in every instance, so long as
campaign within the party has been
conducted fairly,we have never made
a fight for either side. This has been
our attitude in the present contest
between David r. Francis and Jas.
A, Reed, and although we have be-
lieved Francis to be the better quail
fled in every respect for this high
office, we have taken no part editori-
ally. However, Mr.. Reed and his
over Jealous friends, who, in their
mad frenzy to nominate Mr. Reed,
seem to have lost sight of the fact
that there is also a party campaign on,
have not hesitated to denounce Mr..
Francis viciously although in vague
terms, in justice to the record of Mr..
Francis his friends must refute the
insinuations being made against him.
1t has been charged that Mr.. Fran
els is a corporation man, whatever
that may mean, and that he is allied
with the interests. " These state
ments of Mr.. Reeds when simmered
down, only charge Mr.. Francis with
being man of means-and who can
say that his wealth has not been ac-
quired legitimately? Mr.. Reeds long
drawn out villifications along this
line simply accuse Mr.. Francis of
having fulfilled the ambition Of every
American citizen; that of acquiring a
competence upon which he may live
during his declining years
Mr.. Reeds frantic efforts to con-
vince the public that Mr.. Francis is
lined up with the interests would lead
one to believe that it is his hope to
divert public attention from his own
corporation record. For the last three
years Mr. Reed has been on the pay
roll of a S43,000,00O corporation in
Kansas City, the Metropolitan Street
Railway Company, and only last May
resigned his position with that cor
poration, which paid him a salary of
81 900 per month, in order to become
candidate for the United States
Senate.
II will also be remembered that
when this corporation attempted to
force the citizens of Kansas City to
give them a franchise worth millions
of dollars and extending over a per-
iod of years, seventeen years before
their present franchise expired, that
Mr.. Reed attempted to induce the
voters of that city to surrender their
birthright to this corporation, and also
used his mighty influence in an eff
fort to force the Democratic party to
indorse the giving of this franchise.
Mr.. Francis Worlds Fair record
is unimpeachable. and the business
mems organizations of ST. Louis have
heartily Endorsed his every step in
the management of this great enter
prise, and no bodies of men were in
closer touch with the details of the
Worlds Fair or had more at stake
than these organizations.
AS an officer in the Cabinet of the
United States no man has ever made
better record of keeping in touch
with the people Of his state, and
worked more to theiradvantage when
ever his official position permitted
than did Mr.. Francis.
David Rowland Francis, as Cover
nor of this great commonwealth of
Missouri, left the memory of his con-
duct Of this office engraved on the
hearts Of all old-time true jefferson
ian Democrats of Missouri, who still
lovingly reverence the name Of Our
Dave"
His six stalwart sons, known
throughout the state as Dave Francis,
six feet Of Democracy" speak Z