The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1913-02-06
Jefferson City Letter.

has clearly demonstrated two things
that ought to awaken the people
of this state to serious consider
alton Of the future Of their state gov
eminent. The first patent fact is that
the democratic governor and his asso-
ciates are determined TO conduct the
state government along strictly partisan |
lines, ignoring the rights as well as
the views of all but partisan democrats,
building up democratic party ma
chine strong enough to resist any OPP
position it may encounter. In fact
two machines, the one controlling and
operating the other, are being set in
motion-the Major machine, com
posed Of loyal political friends Of the
governor, and party machine so con-
structed that when set in motion by
the Major machine it will control
every dollar Of public patronage, will
control the election booths, and will
intimidate every man within the party
who dares to oppose it. In plain
terms the government Of Missouri, and
the democratic party within Missouri,
are to be one and the same.
The appointment OF democratic
progressive as a member and the sec
retary Of the, St. Louis board OF election
commissioners, instead Of appointing
two republicans, as the law requires,
shows clearly that the governor will
overstep even legal bounds to control
the election machinery of the state.
That appointment means more than
the mere elevation Of progressive to
ahigh political position. 1t establishes
a precedent under which every dem
ocratic county court may ignore re-
publicans and appoint progressives as
Judges and clerks Of election, thus
placing the polling booths under the
control Of opponents OF the republican
party, although the republicans polled
the next to the highest vote, and are
entitled under the letter and spirit o.
the law to recognition as the minority
party Of the state. Major had two
things in view in making this appoint
ment. He desired to cut the repub
licans from official participation in th'
management of elections and to en-
courage the organization and develop
ment of the progressive party, so tha
the progressiveS may not be disposed
10 re.unite with the republicans ant
thus defeat the democrats. Anothe
strictly partisan move was the rejectlo'
by the senate Of republican appointee
Of Governor Hadley, and the taking
about 90 good Offices from republican
and placing them in democratic hands
This action was irregular, unprec(
dented, unfair and selfshly partisan.
The other patent fact is that th
democrats propose to devote as muc
Of the public funds as they see fit
the use Of democratic Office holder
Bills now pending in the legislatur
and which will be put through und
the party lash, provide for new ofic
with salaries and expenses aggregatiI
more than 5000, 900 year. This W
be done in the face OF the fact tn
the revenue for the biennial perl'
will be less than the necessary expen
iture under existing laws. This a
dtional salary and expense burd
upon the treasury will necessar
reduce appropriations for the eleem'
ynary and penal institutions and y
prevent appropriations for purpo'
urgently demanded by public ser
ment. No provision has yet be
made or suggested for increasing
revenue Of the state. In fact G
ernor Major himself has publicly sta
that he does not propose TO seek
ditional revenue by adding to
licerse or other taxes upon the liz
interests or any interests subject
special taxation. II additional reyel
is to be provided it must come II
regular taxpayers by increasing
assessed valuation Of their prope
the very thing Major deplored in a
his campaign speeches.
Whit the republicans Of the S
may do to combat the evident purT
of the democrats to make the 6