The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1916-06-30
COL. GARDENERS DEMOCRACY

Col. John l. Martin in the St Louis Republic.
Ny attention has been called to an article now appearing in the
press dispatches. concerning a sketch OF CI aruner pps'i"e -
the Book Of Prominent St Louisans"
1t is a matter Of common knowledge that sketches of this char
acter frequently contain inaccuracies and are not regarded as Official
l know The Republic would not intentionally make an inaccurate
statement concerning Col Gardner or any other man; ot IN nS IN
stance doubt If the proof was ever submitted to Col Gardner. The
sketch does not give his correct age, being Inaccurate as to month
and year of his birth, nor are his business affiliations correctly
stated. The sketch printed in 1912 also gives his politics as inde
pendent and, touching that statement am in a position to speak
authorttatvely.
l was segeantatarms of the Democratic national convention at
Baltimore in that very same year. 1t so happened that MI John e.
Roberts (who is a delegate to the Democratic national convention to
be held in St. Louis in June) was asked by high authorities to take
up collections for the Wilson campaign fund during that year Mr
Roberts asked Col Gardner to assist in this work, and think MI
Roberts can testify as to whether or not Mr. Gardner himself con-
trbuted and also secured contributions from others for the campaign
of Woodrow Wilson and the Democratic party IN MS STATE III %
the year which these gentlemen would have the Democratic voters IN
Missouri believe that Mr.. Gardner was not a loyal Democrat
Few men have been in a position to know a mans political record
better than / know MI. Gardners. In the first place, he was born IN
Kentucky. His father, William H. Gardner was reared on a sooG
old Tennessee farm and came from OLD Democrauc svcA ray ~
in Virginia His father is also an exConfederate soldier me a COM
panion in arms of Maj, John s. Hill of Marble Hill Mo, who is now
81 years old. These two old soldiers tamped four years 0eeher'
barefooted and in rags, loyal to the cause
It so happened that my law offices and those of Judge 5 5 Bass
my partner were located at Twelfth and Clark avenue, opposite the
-Four Courts. MI. Gardners place of business at that time was just
two blocks away. He and Mr. Bass, Judge Claiborne and Judge Frank
NJ. Kleiber ate lunch together for 10 years at Eoers Ola restaurant
Mr.. Gardner was at this time a struggling young Fellow trying TO make
During the campaign in 1896, when Bryan was a candidate, he
came to ST. Louis. And, appreciating young Gardeners staunch Democ-
rcy and loyalty to the party myself took Mr.. Bryan to call on him
In my presence Mr.. Gardner promised Mr.. Bryan his unqualified sup
port; and with me on several occasions he marched in Bryan parades
and attended Bryan meetings My old friend, Judge Claiborne, is now
dead; but Frank M. Kleiber, S. S Bass, Dr. A. c. Robinson are still
living and can vouch for these statements.
l have been sergeantatarms Of the Democratic national commit
tee for 20 years. During Bryans three campaigns it frequently hap
pened that funds we're short and that on my visits to ST. Louis l per
sonally asked Col. Gardner for money for campaign purposes, to which
requests he always unhesitatngly responded AS to his Democracy
It might also be a good idea to ask the last three candidates for mayor
of St Louis on the Democratic ucket7Judge Ed Noonan Mayor
Rola Wells and DR.. John II. Simon. 1t might also be a good idea TO
ask Col Nicholas NJ Bell, who lives two or three doors from MI
Gardner in this city, and has been a neighbor Of his for almost ~ years.
am grieved, indeed, that Democrats would resort to such meth
DDS of misrepresentation. Democracy was born in this man Gardner
II was a part Of his inheritance from his good old southern father
and mother. am in a position to know that there never was a more
loval Democrat than Fred Gardner knew him before he was p
years old and have been associated with him in every campaign for
owe 20 years-since / have been sergeantatarms OF the Democratic
national committee. All this time his heart and soul has been in
nsrfeot sympathy with the ambition OF the great mass Of our people