Mexico weekly ledger., 1910-10-06

Governor and candidate for the Demo-
cratic nomination for United States
Senator. chose the opening Of the
Democratic campaign at Joplin on
Wednesday as the time ard place for
q lengthy calculation Of his views on
public questions.
He referred back to the time when
he was Governor to show an early
realization Of the approaching ills of
government which he contended were
now here.
Nearly every Missouri Democrat of
prominence, and thousands of the par
ty workers and voters were present
at the Joplin rally. Governor Francis
In his address said:
Champ Clark, the hex Speaker of
the Democratic House of Representa-
tiyes. in his speech to the Democratic
editors in St. Louis, on the evening
of September 20. wisely said that a
mans position on the issues before the
people to-day are of much more i'm
portance and concern us more than
what he thought or championed 20 or
10 years ago.
No sensible man can take issue
with such a statement. References to
past u%tterances, however. are justifi-
able and permissible II used to dem
onstrate the truth of prophesies made
or to challenge the consistency OF a
course pursued by a man appealing 10
the people for their support, especial
ly when his sincerity is questioned by
innuendO II not by direct accusation.
Trusts md M~onopoIies.
was elected Governor OF Missouri
in November OF 1883, and in my In
augural address delivered Jan. is,
1850. used these words concerning
trusts:
There is danger in the centralizIng
tendencies OF business, and In the
growth OF monopoiies and trusts,
which fortify themselves by the ag-
gregation OF capital. by the employ
ment OF large bodies of men and by
other influences permeating all
branches OF trade and classes Of So
ciety. Unchecked by any feelings OF
Individual responsibility, moved solely
by a love of gain, unfettered by the
duties of citizenship, they are en-
abled to perpetuate themselves by the
adoption of methods and the use OF
agents which scruple at no means to
accomplish their ends.
THE result is the erowding out of
all healthy competition and the sur
viyal of the strongest, which In this
case | am sure is not the fttest. This
result blunts the sensibilities Of the
citizen, builds up and fosters classes
among the people and undermines the
fundamental principles upon which the
governmental fabric is based.
Several state constitutions have
wisely set forth that perpetuities and
m~onopolies are contrary to the genius
of a free state and should not be al
lowed"
These sentiments were further i'm
pressed upon the Legislature in my
biennial message, sent to that body
on It's assembling in January, 1891.
"In addressing the General Assem-
bly, two years ago1 expressed my CON
yictions on the subjects Of trusts in
words which | now repeat, as since
that time my views have not changed.
Corporations we're created by the
state to serve good purposes, and in
many instances perform offices OF pub
lie benefit and necessity, that individ-
uals would not or could not accom-
plish.
d ut never was intended by the
a founders of our government, however,
a that corporations should usurp or sup
plant the functions of a citizen or re-
lieye him of personal responsibilities,
nor is 1t promotive of the common
veal that they should. The corpora
I ton laws OF Missouri are superior in
Y many respects TO those Of our sister
states, but It is claimed, and on good
U grounds, that the too frequent practice
of forming private corporations for
the purpose Of engaging in undertake
q ings which are proper objects for IN
dividual endeavor is a perversion Oh
the spirit Of those laws and will re-
sult. IL permitted to continue, in great
u injury to the state.
"a 'If the custom Of Incorporating bus
al mess enterprises to the extent that Is
now followed in mercantile and other
pursuits were carried into the led Oh
agriculture, the result would be that
e large bodies Of land would be owned
"a by companies and titled by tenantry'
The ownership would not then be
j vested in him who cultivated the
land; the home. if preserved, would
be less dear to him who occupied It
u1 and the best incentives TO good citi-
td Eenship would thereby be eradlcated.'
'el In 1896, three years and more after
sd my term as Governor had expired, and
4 while a member of President Cleye-
,el lands cabinet, in declining an invita-
lion to attend a sound money celebra-
al ton to be held in Kansas City In NO