The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1912-06-13
Concerning the Petitions.

Some Of the republican party leaders
and big newspapers seem to fear the
disruption OF the party, but that is not
to be expected-certainly not if the
majority OF that committee deal fairly
with the interests involved. The re-
publican party cannot afford TO be gov
eTned in its nominations by men not
legally and properly selected as dele
gates to the national convention. No
such men ought TO be seated in the
national convention, no matter what
candidate they may favor. If such
are seated and their votes give control
OF the convention TO either side there
may be disruption. The party can no
longer tolerate safely or morally the So
called steam roller" process Of de-
terminiog the right Of delegates 10 sit
in a national convention. 1t is sin
cerely hoped and believed that the
national committee will be fair, but if
it attempts by unfair means to control
the convention its work may be prompt
ly undone on the convention floor and
thus the party saved from threatened
disruption. The feeling among re-
publcans in Missouri is intense at this
this time and must continue so till the
work Of the convention is done; but
there is no disposition on the part of
any Of our party leaders to encourage
anything that may result in a split in
the party ranks. In fact there is an
earnest and a strong sentiment in favor
Of holding the party in this state in line
and in harmony and Of standing shoul-
der to shoulder for the success Of the
republican state ticket in November.
The republican leaders in Missouri
will go before the people this year with
clear and distinct propositions that
ought to appeal very strongly TO the
honest yoemany. They propose, first
Of all, that the people shall have fair
representation in the state senate and
in congress something denied them
ever since 1881, by democratic lead.
ers. Hoping that the Legislature to be
elected this year will establish honest
and constitutional districts the repub-
lican state committee does not propose
TO submit to popular vote a congres
sional redistricting bill; but if the con-
gresSional districts are again gerryman-
dered by the legislature the people will
be given a chance in 1914 to establish
fair districts by direct vote. A bill es-
tablishing fair, honest and constitu'
tional senatorial districts, however, has
been prepared and petitions for its sub
mission to popular vote are now in
circulation throughout the state. They
are in the hands Of the officers Of re-
publican county committees, township
and ward committeeman, republican
county officials and active republican
workers who are not party OF public
officials.
Circulated along with the petition
for the senatorial redistricting bill are
petitions for three other measures 10
be submitted to popular vote. One is
a proposed amendment to the constitu-
tion-an enabling authorizing the
Legislature to enact a law providing
for the compensation OF employees in
iured in the course Of their employment
upon basis other than that OF action.
able negligence" Such an amend
ment is necessary before any legislation
Of the nature Of an employers liability
law can be enacted either by the legis'
lature or the people.
Two Of the petitions are for home
rule bills affecting St. Louis, Kansa:
City and St. Joseph. One provides
for an excise commissioner who MAJ
be appointed by the mayor but re
moved for cause by the governor, O.
mayor, without trial. The other pro
vides for a commissioner Of police t.
be appointed or removed in the sam,
manner. The object of these bills i
10 abolish the police and excise board
in these citiss boards now appointed
by the governor and in no wise con
trolled by the municipalities. Tn,