The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-06-29
GARDNER SHOWS
TRICK TO ROB
PEOPLE OF VOTE
Continued rrom page u

vote on that question Of pronlDltlon.
By way of explanation, Col. Gard
ner told how to sign the bill that was
put up to him by the Anti-Saloon
League, he would nullify the right to
a referendum vote.
What would you think of me if l
had stultified myself, if l had betray
ed the confidence of the voters who
nominated and elected me if | went
into such an agreement. All this
abuse, this calumny which has been
heaped upon my head in the last few
weeks would never have been heard.
"But if the character that l have
built through my 80 years business
and public experience in st. Louis, my
experience as a Freebooter in drafting
the new charter of st. Louis, in max
ing the Gardner land bank bill and
living a Christian life in st. Louis
if my character won't save me in the
face, of this abuse, l should fall, l
ought to fall, l want to fall.
"And say to you other candidates:
Every candidate ought to come out on
this question and tell where he stands.
Have you a yellow streak up your
back?
'I'll never deny the right of the
people to a vote on this question
that's where l stand. If l am made
Governor, l shall submit the PROPOSE
ton to vote of the people at special
election when the ballot will be I'M
trammeled with other issues, and if
then the voters declare themselves in
favor of prohibition, I, as Governor,
will enforce the law.
81 am not asked to lead the Demo-
cratic party in solving this question
of prohibition. The Democratic party
will have a convention after the pri
mary election at Jefferson City, when
platform will be drawn, to deter
mine that question, and I'll stand on
that platform.
"Now about other candidates. |
don't propose to climb into the office of
Governor over the carcass of any Dem
ocrat. l won't climb if that is neces-
sary to get the place. And no matter
who the nominee may be l shall be
with him from the opening of the cam
paign till the gong rings in Novem-
ber."
Col. Gardner then turned to a dis
cussion of the Gardner land bank bill,
which he wrote and which will be up
to the voters. The measure provides
for State aid to the farmer in such a
way that he may borrow money from
State land banks at an extremely low
rate Of interest, and under an amortf-
cation scheme repay both the principal
and interest over period of rs years
and in installments that are no heavier
than is interest under the present
scheme.
The operation of the system will
bring money into Missouri for the
development of the farms. Missouri
needs 300 millions to build farm
houses like Iowa's, he said, and 10
millions for machinery like in North
Dakota.
"The land bank bill is not directed
against the bankers" he declared.
Government has aided everyone else
but the farmer. Now it is time for
the voters TO assert themselves and
aid the farmer"
Mr.. Gardner said there are other
questions for the Democrats to settle
in Missouri: a question of convict la
Dor in competition with freemen,
finance, and highways. He paid high
compliment to Cape County highways
and declared they ranked among the
best in the State.
He said the teachers in the Normal
Schools and all over the State should
receive more encouragement in the
shape of higher salaries. Teachers in
Missouri get $1.24 day for their
work, on the average, he said.
r. H. Whitelaw, city attorney and
Democratic candidate for Judge of the
Common Pleas Court, introduced Col
onel Gardner. His address was pre-
coded by short talk by DR.. E. H.
Bullock of Edna, who spoke on the
County Farm Organization. He is
president of the Federation of Farm
Organizations and is vice-president of
the Federated Commercial Clubs of
Missouri.
Colonel Gardner spoke at Jackson yes
terday afternoon before large crowd,
and during the day he visited towns
in both the northern and southern end
of the county.