The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-12
DIFFERING VIEWS OF REFORM.


DIFFERING VIEWS OF REFORM
With sthe opening of the legislature of
the state of New York the measure
known as the state constabulary bill will
be introduced and in some form will be
passed. 1t is designed to turn over the
control of the police force of greater New
York to the Republican politicians, and
is pure and simple a Plat scheme 1t is
the only direct outcome thus far of the
Mazet investigation, which is designed to
secure reform along the lines which all
real reforming politicians regard as the
only true ones. There has been on the
surface OF things at least some slight
difficulty in securing the approval of the
great Platt reform governor, Roosevelt,
to the scheme. 1t is now virtually set
tied, however, that that strenuous states
man will. when the time comes, make
the necessary concession to the needs
and demands of practical politics Ac-
cordingly all the energies of the reform
ers who recognize Mr.. Platts leadership
ing the necessary pledges of legislators
to vote for the measure so that the way
will be clear to it's passage without OPP
position other than that of the wicked
and unreformed Democrats
Measures of this general nature are not
uncommon in the effectuation of reform
Whenever it happens that politicians Of
one party are in control of the political
machinery of given state and those of
the other party are in the ascendant in
the big cities Of that state such reform
measures in state legislation easily sug-
gest themselves. Of course they are al
ways designed In the interest of reform,
and the people are duly impressed with
the righteousness of the. ref2rmers and
Of those whose operations make the par
ticular reform under consideration neces-
sary.
An admirable illustration of this sort
of thing IS furnished away down in Mis-
souri,, although the rule in the Missouri
case works in the opposite direction so
far as party interest is involved There
the Democrats are i'll control of the state
legislature, and the Republicans in con-
troll OF the government of the city Of ST.
Louis. And the wicked Democrats have,
on approved methods of reform, passed a
state law assuming control of the cleo
ton machinery and of the police force in
st. Louis. II It reform measure to as
considerable an extent, no doubt, as is
that now designed by Mr. Plat and his
friends in New York; but strangely
enough its merits do not present them
selves 10 the Republicans Of st. Louis
with the same Measure of certainty with
which their party brethren in New York
regard the state constabulary measure
of Mr.. Platt.
Indeed, that leading organ of Repub-
lican reform in Missouri the st. Louis
? Globe Democrat grows melancholy and
even abusive IL its consideration of the
Missouri state constabulary measure 1t
unburdens itself Of is wee in such terms
as these:
Citizens will be called on to furnish
more and more money for an inefficient.
| Indifferent and partisan police force con-
Quoted by governor board. Voters
will apply 80 Democrats for the privilege
of registration, present their appeal 20
Democrats i registration is questioned
and. when the polls are opened, hand
their tickets to Democratic Judges Dem
ocratic policemen will stand by to see
that the party atmosphere surrounding
| the ballot box is properly preserved It
was for these purposes that the police
law and election law were passed and in
due time the people will understand the
full extent Of the partisan villainy Of
which they are to be the victims.
Partisan villainy Ell? Now, Messrs
Platt and Roosevelt, both of you true
blue reformers, what do you think of
that? 1t is a far cry from the bosky
| recesses OF the Bronx to the vast stretch
es of the Father of Waters as he
hurries to the close Of mis- majestic course.
But reform does not change with climate.
and partisan-villainy differs not according
to locality; facts which, no doubt, will en-
able all genuine reformers to recognize
that what is reform sauce for the New
York goose ought to be none the less ac-
ceptable as such to the Missouri gander.