The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1915-08-26
All Snarled Up


terest Republicans 10 know that the
democratic party, under the terpsichor-
aen sway OF Elliot Wingioot Major is
all snarled up and is divided into
factions which are clawing each other
like barrel full Of cats and dogs. /
get this information from a gentleman
who has recently been all over the
state, and has visited almost all the
state institutions in a business way.
He is a man who has always been in
terested in politics and his information
is authentic. He says it is amazing
the number Of cross and contrary politi'
cal currents that are flowing beneath
the surface. He found dissatisfaction
everywhere among the politicians and
petty officials. Most Of the appointees
Of state institutions which he visited
are at bitter political enmity. The
rows are Of course, over the jobs, and
the plays" made by Major and his
state officials for political advantage.
Up at St. Joe, fierce condition Of
factionalism exists, owing partly to Au-
ditor Gordon's effort to pose as pub
lie economist. Some kind Of fund has
been for years transferred from the
state to the counties. Gordon found
some kind of iregularity in the trans
iers OF this fund and proceeded TO sue
the collector OF Buchanan County,
because by law he couldn't sue the
county court, which has, or had, the
money. 1t has split the politicians oi
that part Of the democratic party into
irreconcilable factions. The democrats
Of Kansas City and the Major machine
are fighting also, with pleasant little
municipal fight among themselves or
the side. DR.. Simson recently voiced
the dissatisfaction with the Major ad
ministration, in St. Louis, which hasn'
come across with jobs to the right men
I learn from my informant that arounc
almost every court house in the state
the politicians and democratic office
holders are saying bitter things abou
Major and the democratic state officials
and the recognition is general tha
both politically and civically the ad
ministration has been and is an egreg
ious failure. Nepotism Of the rankes
kind, gross lavoritism, extravaganc,
and waste characterize the admins
tration Of state affairs everywhere. De
moralization is to be found in some c
the state institutions.
One instance Of the peculiar metho
Of doing business is related to me.
had to do with the letting By the Priso
Board, OF the contract for the heatin
: appliances Tor the new addition 10 III
pennitentiary. Taking advantage
/ one Of Majors philandering trips to s.
= Louis, Auditor Gordon, the other men
= Der Of the Prison Board who is workin
4 with Major, came also. Treasure
Deal was at Jefferson City, and Attorr
: ey General Barker, the other membt
T Of the board, was away up in Mort
h Missouri, on political or other business
j Warden McClupg, Major appointed
T is said to have been down here, stag
managing the deal. McClung is n,
e a member Of the Prison Board, ol
: Major and Gordon do not seem able
e get along without his advice. VIII
IS favorite contractor Major, Gordon ar
II McClung had in view is not state
It but cne acquainted with the situate
Is could probably guess very closel
IS Anyhow, Deal heard Of the deal al
1t wired the prison architect, or somebot
IS else in the game, that il any contra
:, it would be illegal; that the Pris,
k Board had not been notified that {
ie contract was to be let; that it wou
:. have to be let at Jefferson City, al
N that other bidders whose bid we're
file void have to be given a chanc
e. Since Deal thought that way abe
lie it, the visiting statesmen decided
is call the matter temporarily off.
st The democratic Office holders at J
Id fdrson Ditv form a variety OF angl
So each one plugging for his own politi
he game to a finish-all but Deal, who
ce hear is filled with disgust at the sell