The St. Joseph observer., 1920-11-27
a Great FinanciCr

speech making.
a Great Financicr
Governor Dockery sustained his
reputation as a financicr by turning
over to his successor. $1,45O,OOO at
the close of his administration, and
this, mind you, after all debts had
been paid. This sum was saved the
state by his wise and economic meth
ods.
Being asked If he ever studied
law, Governor Dockery replied, No.
never did
II remarked, Which goes to prove
that a man can be a number one good
state executive and not be a lawyer
Eyes, he said, but when assist
ance could properly be given by them,
I had the counsel of three very able
members of the supreme court Of
Mlssouri-Judges CAN'T, Fox and Bur-
CESS
'They were trusted, tried advisers
Then the twinkle left his eye and a
serious expression came on his face,
he simply pointed upward. / caught
his meaning-so many of his friends
had gone home. His wife. while she
was first lady in Missouri and mis-
tress of the mansion, went home. It
was during the last year of his gov-
ernorship, just as the legislature was
about to convene and as the New
Year Of 1903 was being born, she
died. Knowing her supreme hour
had come, thinking only of her hus-
band and of how he would need her
during the legislature, she said, What
a poor time to die But the Sum-
moning Angel never considers those
left behind, and he ruthlessly took
her. Perhaps the beckoning hands
Of the little babies she had loved
and lost made it easier for her to
let life's flower fan.'
Was Lost Without Her
Her husband, left alone, was lost
without her, but he bore his sorrow,
like all other Affections, with forth
tude and submission.
unlike most governors, after his
term expired, Governor Dockery did
not aspire to any other public office
He came to Washington to witness the
Inauguration of President Wilson sew
eral years after his service as gover-
nor, and almost before he realized It
he was again enmeshed in the politi-
cal game to help his party and
friends, and for the pure fun Of it.
HE knows the game through and
through, and as for dates and statis-
tics. he can roll them as a sweet
morsel under his tongue and never
misquote one
HE was not an applicant for his
present position, but President Wilson
offered 1t TO him. At first he declin.
ed, but sipon further insistence, ac-
cepted.
His Onerous Position
This position involves a variety of
duties, such as the enforcement Of
the law requiring newspapers to make
stated reports of their ownership and
circulation, supervision of the frank
ing privilege, and the management Of
the fiscal affairs of the postal service.
In a word Governor Dockery is fl
nancial manager of the entire postal
service, which, let me assure you, is
a big job and requires a man Of versa
tile talents.
That he has filled it with signal
ability and success is proven by the
length OF time he has held the office,
"Governor Dockery has been in
public life twenty eight years, twenty
four of which have been spent at
washington. But he has never lost
his love for his native state, where
he still holds a place in the esteenT
respect and love of his peopfb He
often makes the long journey TO Mis-
stairi because he loves to keep in
touch with his home people. Their
interests are his, ne believes~i in them.
and they trust and honor him"
Glen D. Smith. the Brown Transfer