Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-06-08
GARDNER DEFINES
HIS PRINCIPLES
IN STIRRING SPEECH AT SPRING
FIELD CANDIDATE FOR GOV.
ERNoR ANSWERS CRITICS.
EVERY ISSUE MET sQuARELY
" Elected He Pledges Non.'ntsrfer'
ence With Expressed viii ct
the Voters and to Enforce
Laws az Enacted.
Springfield, Mo, June 6. 1916.

Springfield, Mo, June 6, 1916.
In a speech delivered here tonight.
Col. Fred B. Gardner OF st. Louis.
Democratic candidate for Governor,
among other things said:
| entered upon this campaign deter
mined to predicate my appeal to n
Democrats Of Missouri for their SUI
fraSe upon my merits and more
particularly upon merits OF those con-
structire measures which l advocate.
and with a tirnl resolve not to har'
angue the people Of this State upon
the shortcomings Of my opponents.
| propose to adhere strictly to this
rule throughout this campaign.
Some OF ny opponents have adopt
ed a different Plan and nave gone
ABOUT the State discussing my per
sonal and business affairs Il other
matters wholly lrIsyelant to the Is
sues OF this campaign. Hitherto l
have ignored these efforts to divert
the attention Of the Democrats from
the real issues, bit in justice to those
who are supporting me, l feel that
the time has come for me to mention
two or three OF these charges.
Some OF M eloquent opponents, in a
spirit of raillery, nave referred to the
company with which | am connected as
a trust and to HE as a head OF a trust.
speak Of it reluctantly and only BY
reason of the peculiar position III
which | am placed but ! am proud or
NY business career, 4 OF ever! act
Of mine which contributed to its sue
cess. Beginning Nth no assets save
the faith Of a few OF my fellows in my
honesty, integrity and business ability.
| have built up q business which gives
employment 10 a Eoouiy nunDer
| Of people and affords me a compe-
tence and enables NE to occasionally
give away money there I think it will
90 good. This business vas developed
and is now conducted in competition
With two hundred and fifty similar
concerns located in the United States
and neither | nor my company, nor any
one in its behalf have ever created, en-
tered into, become a member OF, OF
participated in any trust OF any
thing resembling a trust. Not"ith
standing ali the agitation and litl
cation relative TO trusts during
he past few years, and the nu
merous Investigations conducted o.
learned acknowledgements, Our c1m
psny was never suspected OF being
trust or a party to a trust agreement
until / had the temerity to offer my
self for office, and then no lorna
charge is made in court but vague
charges are made b. i~nsinuation ant
innuendo from the stump. l suffer NJ
uueasiness as to the weight that VII
De given b the Democrats OF thi!
State to charges so made at sucn !;
time as this
Some tina ago | was asked BY th'
State Superintendent OF the Missouri
Anti.Saloon League whether or not, II
the event | an elected Governor G
Missouri, | 9'ould use my influence t
prevent the passage Of Temperance
legislation, and whether or not
would sign a Statewide prohibition
bill with the peace. health and safe
ty" clause attached.
| have neTer felt any hesitanc
about expressing my views on thi
question, although did not feel unde
obligation to express them to Nj
Shupp for the reason that before b
asked me these questions, he al
nounced his opposition to my cand
iacy. am perfectly willing for tn
people OF Missouri to know my vie"
on this question. Should l be electe
Governor / 1ould not lay the weigh
Of a feather in the way Of any NOV
ment or any act of the Legislator
providing for the submission OF tn
question Of Statewide prohibition I
? the people for a vote in any mann
consistent with the provisions OF tn
Constitution of the State OF Missouri
nor would | attempt in the slisntsi
way to influence. the people then
: selves in voting on this question. An
il the people of the State of Nilsson
enact any legislation on this questio
| will to the best Of my ability enfort
the laws SO enacted.
,, In a government such as r II
I law is supposed to be but an EXPIRE
\ sion of the robust sentiment of a m
4 iority Of the citizens. The slogan
v the Democratic party has always bee1
Q Let the people rule" Some yea
9 ago there vas agitation among Il
people of the State Of Missouri to Il
y effect that the Legislature was fl
' quently controlled by the politician
= and influences inimical to the best l
terests Of the general welfare, al
I that as a result thereof, laws we
!. frequently enacted which were not
II expression Of the will Of the Peep
) In order 10 prevent such an act fro
:. becoming a law and remaining
force, the people Of this State amer
ed the constitution at the general eli
\ ton In 1903 by adopting the consti'
) tioual amendment, commonly kno'
y as the initiative and referendum.
u 1t Is not for me to discuss the IN
its or dement's of the initiative a
~
Is Party Should BE Considered.
n. Candidates should exercise so
O consideration for the party and so
common sense in their campaigns.
a candidate assails his fellows In !
10 race It is not only in bad taste. !
" promotes i'll feeling and may furn1