The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1912-10-03
ELLlOTY w. MAJOR.
Democratic Candidate tor Governor.


Democratic Candidate tor Governor.
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party retired from the management
of state affairs in 1871, and the Demo
cratic party has had charge in all the
departments from that time until 1905
when the Republicans elected their
candidates with the exception of Gov.
ernor. In 1908 the Democrats lost the
Governor and Lieutenant-Governor
but won back all the other depart
ments.
Few men know how, by whom and
in what way the business of the state
Is managed. 1t is taken care of by
seven executive departments, to-wit:
that of Governor, Lieutenant-G Gov
ernor, Attorney General, Secretary of
State, State Auditor, State Treasurer
and Superintendent of Public Schools,
together with various boards, such as
the State Board of Equalization, Board
Of Fund Commissioners, Board of
Education, Board of Inspection, etc,
each of which boards is composed of
three or more officers from these va
rious executive departments. Each
one of the departments transacts the
business enjoined ulSDn it under the
Constitution and laws of the state
and also as member of these vari-
Gus boards assists in handling the
financial and other business interests
of the commonwealth. The majority
of the members upon each of these
boards is and has been Democratic
for the last four years, consequently
if the affairs are now in good condi-
ton the same has been brought about
by the labors of the Democrats.
| The Governor represents one-sev-
enth of the Executive Department, he
being designated as the Chief Execu-
tive. AS the Acknowledgement of the
state, l represent one-seventh of the
Executive Department and am the le-
gal adviser of all the other executive
departments, as we'll as these govern
ing boards.
When the Republican party retired
from power in 1871 it left a record
upon the pages of Missouri's history
which no one can or will now attempt
to defend. Under it's management the
rate of taxation was so cents on the
500 valuation, and the bonded indebt-
edness of the state S21, $4,000. Rail-
roads were not assessed and the state
received no interest returns whatever
on its public moneys. These were
some of the conditions confronting
the Democratic party when 1t came
into power.
By the splendid management of the
states business by the Democratic
party, and under its guiding hand,
Missouri, in the march of progress,
has become one of the greatest states
in the American Union-a period of
legislative and business construction,
period of progressive achievements.
By economy and business methods
of taxation for state purposes from so |
cents to Is cents on the 500 valua-
ton. 1t paid off and discharged the |
bonded debt of $21673,O which, to-
gether with the interest, amounted to |
$4O,OO0,OOO. While it was
paying off this heavy indebtedness it
also reduced the tax rate. This was |
a great business and financial achieve
ment, and Missouri Is the only state
in the Union that discharged its bond
ed Indebtedness and at the same time
reduced the rate of taxation.
p,1h1io cpryico onrnOra tiOnC which
were not assessed under Republican
rule, are now assessed at s1S5, 498,514.
The public moneys held by the State
Treasurer, and on deposit at that
time, gave to the state no interest
returns, while now the state receives
interest at the rate of 1923 per cent
on it's daily deposits, or about 100000
per annum.
The Republicans during this period
Of Democratic construction cried from
the housetops that the public school
fund had been looted and that the
books must be seen. The Republic
ans were successful in 1905 with the
exception of the office of Governor,
and had charge of the books until
1909, and during that time found the
school fund had not been looted, but
1aG grown from $1,500,O00 to 49,
100000, and that the books were in
perfect balance. and, We now no long
Or hear of any charges of wrongful
ioing during all the period covered by
Democratic rule. We discussed over
100, 100000 in managing the affairs
If the state, and that without the loss
II a single dollar. This has been the
way of Democratic achievement in
1t is and has been a party
If progress anI is in touch today
With the progressive spirit Of the age.
t established for this state a public
school system not excelled by any /
tate in the Union. 1t established
great State University, five normal
,chools, homes for the ex-confeder-
ties and federal soldiers, Eve hos
)itals for the insane, schools for the