The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1913-06-19
A SUCCESSFUL
DEMOCRATIC SCHEME.
Police Department and Saloons Of St.
Louis to Remain Under Control of
Democratic Politician.

merely bid for the votes in the cities
that represent the desire for home
rule. They were not sincere in pro-
posing home rule, in promising it in
their platform or in enacting home
rule measures at Jefferson City. The
democratic party robbed the three big
cities Of the state Of home rule years
ago and set up system OF state con-
troll over police departments and the
saloons in order thus to handle GER
tain element in the larger cities whose
votes are never governed by principle
but by selfish interests. With the
policemen to do their bidding and the
saloons afraid Of their political power,
the democratic leaders in St. Louis,
Kansas City and St. Joseph kept under
their lash thousands Of voters who
otherwise could not have been con-
trolled, and made possible election
crookedness that could never have
been practiced without the connivance
Of police departments and the aid Of
evil influences. Without such con-
troll in 1914 the democrats cannot
carry St. Louis. The party leaders
know that so we'll they are not willing
10 take the chance OF defeat threatened
in the two home rule bills passed by
the last Legislature and signed by
Governor Major; so they have engi-
neered movement to submit these
bills to vote Of the people under the
referendum in order to suspend their
operation till the next election is ovor
with. Meanwhile the appoin!ees OF
the democratic governor will control
the policeman and the saloons OF St.
Louis and will try to deliver the
goods" in November Of next year.
The democratic party leaders who pro-
NOTED this scheme had the audacity to
say that the Ministerial Alliance Of St.
Louis, an organization Of protestant
preachers, was responsible for it. That
organization most emphatically denied
such responsibility and censured sew
eral democratic preachers who sought
to use the cloak Of the alliance to cover
their own connection with the scheme.
The petitions for submitting the bills
to vote under the referendum were
circulated, for the most part, BY men
hired for the work. They do not rep
resent any we'll defined or sincere pur-
pose 10 defeat the bills-in fact they
do not represent anything in particular
but a desperate democratic scheme.
1t is doubtful whether five thousand
names could have been secured on
such petitions without paying the price
offered by the alleged committee
five cents per name.
No matter how the people may vote
on these bills at the next general elec
ton the democratic schemers have
already accomplished their object
they have suspended the bills till afte
the election and thus continued to tht
appointees Of democratic governo
control Of the police and the saloon
Of the great city Of St, Louis. Thes'
appointees can in no wise be hindereC
by republican mayor. That was tn,
sole object Of the movement to submit
the bills TO vote. The moyemen
originated with democratic politicians
was promoted by them and was cred
tied to preachers in order 10 obtai
the signatures OF voters all over tn
state who could be easily per- uade
that the proposed change in the mar
agement Of the police and excise dt
part nents Of St. Louis would mea
open saloons on Sunday ard the col
troll OF the police by republican mayr
for partisan purposes; whereas th
very opposite result was made poSsib
by the bills, as their operation wouI
have made the enforcement OF II
liquor laws imperative and the divorc'
ment Of the police department fro
politics permanent.