The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1910-10-13
CONTROLLED BY
H INTERESTS
HOW THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
IN MISSOURI HAS BEEN USED
BY LOBBYISTS.
Governor Hadley Tells Democratic
Voters What They VIII Not Hear
From Their Campaign speak.
ers-"ShannonlsmT an Issue.


Of his administration during the last
twenty months and fully replying TO
the only two criticisms directed
against II by the Democratic State
platform-one concerning home rule.
the other concerning alleged "extraVa.
gances"-Governor Hadley. in his
great speech at Springfield September
20, turned his attention to the record
OF Democratic administrations and to
the present relation ofthe Democrat
ic leaders and policies. Among other
things Of peculiar interest, he said:
But even IL the Republican party
did not have so much to offer in the
way Of achievements for the public
good, Of pledges kept and the stand
ard OF public service advanced as a
reason why that party should be con-
tiIued in power, it could with conf
dence be asserted that the Demo
cratic party, rs 1t Is now directed and
controlled. never looked more hopeless
CT less attractive TO that portion OF
u citizenship whose only desire Is
TO secure the best public service and
tire highest standard Of public eff.
cheney.
Never before, never even in those
dark and hopeless days when tho
"old Guard" or, as charged by Gov.
ernor Folk, the "Old Gang" had cor.
rupted the public service OF the state
by making the police and election
boards OF the large cities political
machines and prostituted the ballot
10 corrupt political purposes caused
the police departments TO become
both Inefficient and corrupt; permit
ted the bribe giyer and the bribe
taker to stalk through legislative
halls and go unwhipped OF justice
sold and defeated legislation at the
instance Of favored corporations
never before during all that time.
when, as Mr.. Folk said. tho rostora-
ton Of the principles OF common hon,
esty was the paramount issue In Mis-.
souri, politics was the Democratic
party more thoroughly under the con
troll and the domination Of special in
terests than II is today. The tempo
rGry interruption OF this domination
during the administration OF Govern
or Folk has beeu brought 10 a con.
c]lusion. and he and his followers have
now been most effectively eliminated
from tho councils OF the Democratic
party The domination Of special in
t%erests. corporate and political. Is now
supreme and unquesuoned. and thiA
fact can be best seen in a compari-
o Of the records OF the last Repuo-
lican House and the last Democratic
Senate and the bills that we're passed
In one and defeated in the others
Record Of Republican House
The record Of the Republican House
In the last General Assembly constt.
tutcs a record Of legislation enacted
in the interest Of the people and In
compliance with the promises OF the
Republican platform OF 1905. and
clearly entities that party to the con.
tinued confidence and approval OF the
people OF Missouri. It passed the bill
providing for a Public Service Com
mission TO regulate the service aud
the rates Of public service corpora.
lions doing business In the state, such
as had proven SO effective tn other
states. and particularly Ia New York
and Wisconsin. In securing fair treat
meut for the people. a bin prohihiting
the giving and receiving OF railroad
passes, a bill prohibiting discrimius.
lions by railroads In passenger rates
a bill comforting upon the Board Of
I nmn-.-H ..H NfHLH.H... fH..-H....4L.
tons by railroads In passenger rates.
\ bin requiring the separation OF the
brewery from the saloon. % biil pro
viding for district local option 81
cities OF $4,000 Inhabitants. "a buI
amending the local option laws by
increnRing the size OF tho town and
cities which should be governed b,
the voto OF the county = bin iucreas
ing dramshop licenses a corporation
franchise tax bill. a bin providing fli
a board OF control for uloemas1 nary
and penal Institutions; an election
law applicable TO Kansas CITY and 81
Louis. making needed changes IN
those election laws. aud providing tol
the appointment Of a bipartisan clce
tlon hoard: a bin providing that cases
ou appeal should not be reversed on
account OF tochnioalltlcs not affect
ing the merits Of the litigation a bill
providing for home rule for the large
cities Of the state. An OF these bin,
were passed In the Republican Hous,
by practically a party vote, and wer,
defeated In the Senate by practically
the same division. And these hill.
we're passed In the House, notwith
standing the opposition OF a lohb,
composed OF the representatives o.
the public service corporations anJ
breweries. Hut when these bills cam,
before the Senate, with the same op
position, thoy met an overwhelming
defeat. And. the significant fact So
connection with the defeat Of thes,
measures Ia that the lobby which uu
successfully opposed their passage II
tbs House, and successfully accom-
plishod their defeat In the Senate
consisted OF a larger number OF prom