The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-05-20
ABOUT THE REFERENDUM

had with reference to the propriety of |
circulating petitions for the reference
of certain legislation passed by the
recent legislature to the people for |
their approval or rejection. If the
people as whole understood the mer-
its of these various bills as well as
those who advocate their reference
there would be no room for discus
sion. Opposition comes from two
sources, namely: partisan Republi-
cans, and weak-kneed Democrats, who
are either holding some position in
the state government under Governor
Hyde, or who hope to be appointed to
some position under Governor Hyde's
administration.
An analysis of these bills will re-
veal that it is nothing more nor less
than the same policy that was put in
operation when the Republicans came
power in Missouri after the war. Elec-
tons were then a farce. "Count"
Rodman decided the elections regard
less of the vote of the people. Have
the people of Missouri forgotten how,
without law and without right, the
Judges of the Supreme Court of Mis-
souri,, elected and installed into Of
fee, were removed forcibly by the
Police Department Of the city of st.
Louis, under the orders Of Thomas G.
Fletcher? If they have, we ask them
to refer to the record, solemnly writ
ten, in the preface of the 35th Mis-
souri, Supreme Court report. In keep
| ing with this policy, this administra-
ton is removing duly elected men to
office, are not counting them out, as
Rodman did, but they are legislating
them out. The means may be more
gentlemanly, but the ends are just as
damnable.
The constitution of Missouri, Ar
ticle 6, Section rs, says: "The Judges
of the circuit court shall be elected by
the qualified voters of each circuit,
shall hold their office for the term of
six years.; and yet, the Legislature
of Missouri by it's recent act has leg
islated every Circuit Judge in Mis-
souri, out of office. for the purpose
solely of removing Democratic Judges
from the bench.
1t has also legislated all of the
Justices of the Peace and Constables
elected in Kansas City by vote of the
people, out of office, so that Governor
Hyde may appoint their successors and
appoint Republicans.
The other bills to which reference
is sought, are so-called Consolidation
Bills, which do not change one jot nor
title of the law as it now stands, ex-
cept that it increases the number OF
officers to enforce it, and enlarges the
number of employees, and thereby in
creases the expenses of their admin
istration.
The so-called Budget Bill places
practically the expenditure of two
thirds of the revenue appropriated for
the administration Of state affairs in
the hands of one man, and imposes
upon him power and duties which If
properly executed will require the
employment of an army of clerks, the
expenses of which cannot be foretold.
The Agricultural Bill does not
change the law affecting the subject
of agriculture nor any incident there
of, but 1t does create new offices; and
while it abolishes the office of State
1 Warehouse Commissioner, yet it puts
the inspection of grain under the
Commissioner of Agriculture, with
the same employees at increased sal
aries; and the only purpose OF 1t is to
secure control of the Warehouse De-
partment, SO that the Republican adj
ministration can appoint the grain in
spectors, weighers, samplers and
other officers employed therein, posi-
tions now held by Democrats.
| The result of it all means the re-
1moval wantonly and without cause, Of
men elected or appointed to office be-
! fore their times have expired, simply
because Of their politics. It means
an increase in the number Of offices
and employees to be appointed by a
| Republican Governor. II means the
/ expenditure of million dollars more
Of money in the next biennial period
| in the administration Of state affairs
/ than has ever been required, and than
lthan has ever before been required,