St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-12
A BASE ATTACK.

n
There seems to be something in Re
publican associations which obliges
men to forego the decencies of life,
and defeat their own ends by resort
ing for party purposes to the vulgar
and unmanly weapon of personal
abuse. We had one instance of it the
other day. when a vile personal at
tack upon a Democratic candidate for
local office brought down upon it's au-
thor the condemnation of his own
party associates who were not lost to
a sense Of decency. The public is now
treated to another nauseous dose in
the coarse vituperation which the Pho
neer Press is bestowing daily upon
MIR. Darragh, the present city attor-
ney And this, too, is having the same
effect. Hundreds of Republicans who
have no personal knowledge Of Mr.
Darragh are Disguised and offended
with form of political warfare that
is not tolerable in this community
The sole cause of offense which Mr..
Darragh has given is to decline to &C
cept a proposed reduction of 10 per
cent in his official salary. This act
on his part is open to criticism by
anybody who thinks that every pub
lie official should bear his share of
desired economies; but it does not af-
ford reason for letting loose upon
him a flood of billingsgate and an as
sault upon his professional ability and
his standing in the community. That
is an offense so gross that even parti-
san Republicans are ashamed of their
organ. The Pioneer Press in this
matter has thrown off the mask. Its
pretended support Of the cause Of
municipal retrenchment has been to it
but cover under which it might work
for some possible Republican advan-
tage. It's every mention now of mu-
nicipal matters is tinged with the vir-
ulence and bears the stamp of the I'M
fairness that distinguish the partisan.
We call to mind the fact that one
of the first officials in this city to an
any of his salary, the first of all we
believe, was the city controller Mr.
McCardy accepted his office when
times were good, and the salary was
then regarded as adequate compensa-
ton According to the computation
of the Pioneer Press, that salary hes
q purchasing power of at least 80 per
cent more now than 1t had then. There
fore it ought to leave him we'll off if
he gave up 10 per cent of it. AS his
office has been managed, it would
seem to the public that the compensa-
ton attached to it is inordinately
large. Yet the Pioneer Press not only
vents no abuse on Mr. McCardy for
setting the initiative of opposing sal
airy reductions, but opposes any change
whatever in the expenditures of his
office. Then there is the city clerk
Mr.. Jensen; a very estimabIe man as
we know him, though chosen by what
the Pioneer Press pleases to call, in
Mr.. Darragh's case, political skull
duggery." He, likewise, is a Repub-
lican. He has four years to serve and
his salary is $4,000 per annum. He does
not offer to relinquish any Of it. But
while "Grab-An Darragh' breaks out
like leprosy all over the editorial
page of the Pioneer Press, "Grab-AH
McCardy" and "Grab-AI Jensen" be-
ing Republicans, are passed by in re-
spectful silence.
Mr. Darragh is a gentleman well
known to this community. and his
reputation is able to take care of
itself against assaults by the Pioneer
Press. 1t is a matter of record, which
has, we believe, found publicity hereto
fore through the Pioneer Press, that
he has been remarkably successful in
the cases that he Las defended on be-
office are, we know, conducted as care
fully and ably as they have been under
his predecessors. No language is too
strong in which to blazon the shame
of this personal attack upon him, for
the sole offense of being a Democrat.
This is characteristic of the whole
course of comment of the Pioneer Press
on local affairs. No such evil service
has been rendered to st. Paul as it has
performed by bringing forward a bit
ter and reckless partisanship to block
the wheels of possible reform Relating
TO council affairs, it approves or passes
with srsSnce equivalent to approval
Republican proposition to increase