MISSOURI: Ex Machina

A five-month-old story last week reached a powerful climax in St. Louis. It began one day last November when ten Missouri Democratic leaders met in secret in a room in St. Louis' De Soto Hotel. Senator Bennett Champ Clark was there from Washington. Eight days before, a Republican, Forrest Donnell, had been elected Governor—in the midst of a Democratic sweep—by 3,613 votes. These politicians were practical men. They discussed a legislative investigation, on the issue of fraudulent ballots, that would prevent Forrest Donnell from taking office. Said a seasoned old country politician: "You will be the ones who are under...