The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1911-07-13
Connected Story of the ToIerton Case.

Connected Story OF the l0Ieft0n Ease.
There is no parallel in the histor,
of Missouri politics to the Tolertol
case, which was finally determined b.
the Supreme Court July 5, by vot.
of five to two, Judges Valiant ane
Woodson being the only dissenters il
conclusions that will forever settle the
limitations of Legislative authority ovel
the appointments of the governor and
the right of the legislature to hinder
an appointee from drawing the pay tc
which his office entities him. The
story of the case WILL always be inter
esting.
During the campaign of 1910 Hon.
Jesse A. Tolerton, State Game and
Fish Commissioner, did some effective
work in behalf of the Republican nom
inees, though he travelled at his per-
sonal expense..and never neglected his
public duties. He was not as busy
or as conspicuous in the campaign as
were several of the Democratic officials,
but was far more effective. On one of
his trips he incurred the displeasure
of Frank Farris, an attorney whose fam
ilv home was in St. Louis but who was
the nominee of the Democrats of
Crawford county for the legislature.
Farris, notorious in legislative politics
was elected. AS soon as the legis-
lature met he began fight on Mr..
Tolerton, aided by State Auditor John
P. Gordon who defeated Mr.. Tolerton
for auditor in 1908 by narrow and
doubtful majority, and who had been
antagonistic to him from the day Gov
nor Hadley appointed him State Game
and Fish Commissioner, under the act
Of the legislature of 1909 creating that
Office.
While Farris was the active promot-
er Of the fight on Mr.. Tolerton in the
legislature last winter Gordon and other
Democratic officials and politicians
were at his back, with all the aid and
comfort possible. To get Mr.. Toler-
ton out Of office they sought to repeal
the game and fish laws. Failing in
that committee was appointed to in
vestigate Mr.. Tolerton's administration,
Gordon having charged that his deput-
es had drawn money for salary and ex-
penses to which they were not entitled
that Mr.. Tolerton had approved salary
and expense bills that were not valid
claims against the game and fish fund.
And the charge of political activity was
also paraded.
The committee met behind closed
doors. Republican Senators were not
admitted, though Democratic Senators
were. Mr.. Tolerton was refused the
privilege of facing his accusers or of
hearing the testimony of the witnesses
or Of having an attorney to represent
hsm at the hearings. Absolutely no
testimony that would have been accept
ed oy any court of justice was adduc-
ed to sustain the charges under inves-
tlgation. The committee dallied with
Its duties till the session was nearing
Its close and then presented a bomb
aSiic report, full of partisan venom and
VOID OF virtue. It was ordered printed
ana thousands Of copies were spread
broadcast, over the state. It was i'm
possible for the unscrupulous partisans
VINO had thus far led the fight on Mr..
Aoierton to put through any direct
legislation that would disturb him, so
sney went into the senate and attached
20 tnat paragraph of an appropriation
Dill providing for the salaries and ex-
penses OF the game and fish depart
ment stipulation that none of the
money thus appropriated should be
paio as long as Jesse A. Tolerton was
retained as Came and Fish Comissicn
ef' They thought that would compel
1ne resignation or removal of Tolerton
~ tney felt assured that Governor Had
icy would not permit the department