St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-29
Rev. DR.. S. G. Smith Makes
Vigorous Reply,
AND SCORES BIG POINTS.
Shams Of the "Reform Ad-
ministration" Laid Bare.
AN EDITOR FLAKED ALIVE
Defeat Is Uncomfortable, but
to Be Betrayed
rs TO BE DiSH0A0RE1.

Rev. DR.. Smith, pastor of the People,
church. in his discourse Yesterday
morning, paid his respects TO the IRE.
form administration" and it's newspa.
per apologist in the following vigorous
style:
Pity, Piety and Politics.
Matthew xiii, 25. "Woe unto YOU
scribes and Pharisees. hypocrftes.
Last Sunday. in discussing the ques
tlon of the relation of law and morals.
endeavored to lay down the p,inciples
which ought to furnish foundation fol
social theory. So far as | know. those
principles have not been criticised adj
versely. In the conclusion of the adj
dress l made two Characterization
which seem to have had distinct appli.
cation, but which, in the abstract
form In which they were made. vera
fully justified by the principles laid
down. The editor of the Pioneer Press.
either intoxicated by the phrase "a
great public Journal" or from some
other motive, comes boldly forward to
confess that his was the newspaper
which had been the 'apologist and des
fender of public official who was de-
tecttd in accepting monthly payments
from other public officials who needed
and solicited his vote" This state.
ment. we are told, is "fair Illustration
OF the loose and intemperate reckless
ness OF assertion which serves to bring
the pulpit politician into such general
dlsrepute with fair-minded men.''
The Pioneer Press has taken a some-
what different position upon this Incl.
dent, almost every day during the past
week; but its latest verdict is as foI-
lows: "When an alderman enters into
secret arrangement whereby he re-
celves pay from an official of another
department. dependent in anywise upon.
the action of the city council, no matter
what his explanation OF it, he cannot
blame the public for putting the worst
construction upon it. 1t is the natural
II not necessary inference that there
was corrupt understanding betwee n
the parties"
This is so much worse than anything
said about it from this pulpit last Sum
day that it would seem as though the
editor politician must have been con-
verted by re-reading of the sermon,
and with zeal so often conspicuous in
new converts has gone to a length of
''loose and Incorporate recklessness Of
assertion" which further years and eX-
perience will perhaps tone down or
modify. l have nothing further to say
upon that incident, for it has already
received an adequate official condem,
nation.
Not content with its perfo rmance
upon the foregoing subject, tae next
day the paper returns to the charge
with discussion Of another characteri-
zation in that discourse. l spoke of an
official who goes into Office with two
special pledges, namely these: 81 will
turn out the gang, will enforce the
laws" After proving concluSively to
its own satisfaction that there is no
such man Ill town, am then by a curious
inversion of logic very severely
reprimanded for my abuse and
Misrepresentation of the present
mayor of st. Paul. Now | said
nothing about the present mayor of St.
Paul, unless he is the man who prom
ised to turn out the gang and to en-
force the laws" and then failed to do
either. However, so many people have,
in spite of the Pioneer Press, felt that
the remarks must apply to the present
mayor that it may be worth while to
look into the matter little further. In
order to do so, it is necessary, on ac-
count of the peculiar nature of the evil
dence, to identify the person of the
editorial writer who has assailed me.
The strong and stormy rhetoric, and
above all, the fierce power of invective,
unrivaled lndeed-at least within the
circles of respectable society proclaim
the gifted pen so familiar 10 st. Paul
for generation. The writer was nOne
other than Joseph a. Wheelock him,
SELF As to whether or not Mayor
Wright has turned out the gang, do
not care to discuss. Partly because
there are plenty of others who will dis
cuss it, and partly because l 10 rot care
to insist that he shall be too lonesome
among honest men" But as to the
other matter have something 10 say.
Not because l wish to pursue the re-
treating figure of departing Official,
and II should be remembered that the
sermon was preached before the depart
ure was announced, but solely because
the future good government and hope
of st. Paul seems to me to depend upon
clear understanding of the nature of
our present situation. 1t is not with
reference to persons but policies that l
speak.
MIR. Wheelock says: "The other
charge is that Mayor Wright has not
kept his promise TO enforce The laws;
he never made ANY suck promise" And
the whole article iupiies that the mayor
is ut perfect liberty 10 use his own best
judgment as to wha. laws lie would or
would not enforce. l have been COM
PEELED te speak OF Mr.. Wheelock as the
author Of The criticism because the
Pioneer Press is one of my witnesses IN
this case. On April 10, 1922, \ PrOllibi-
tion convention was held. IL giving an
account Of that meeting the Pioneer
Press says: "in Col. Wright they will
have candidate who is q man upon
whom they can depend 10 gee that the
law Is enforced and corruption and rot
tennsss rooted out' That IS what the
paper said aboa. il. To show what the
!nen n the convention thought about it,
I r.,.t. frn.n tho Sna,,S:i of Rpy I II