The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-12
Circulation Statement.
Missourf,s Disgrace.

Missouri's Disgrace.
Every political organization is afiiicte'
at times with small creatures in big places
The Democracy Of Missouri appears TO b
thus situated at present.
The outrageous situation at st. Loui
illustrates our meaning perfectly. In poin
of population st. Louis is the fourth city il
the Union. In some lines of industry st
Louis is second to no city on the continent
This presupposes a well organized bushes;
machinery, which. when interfered with,
entails a hardship upon the community
that is incalculable in dollars and cents. be-
cause a disturbance Of the delicate balance
of relations. social. industrial. and COM
mercial, means first arrangement and then
paralysis of the forces which make for good
citizenship and orderly progress. 1t is
the duty of persons entrusted with official
responsibility to prevent just such disturb
ance of commercial equipoise and social
security as is now disgracing American in
situations in st. Louis. The entire street
car system of that big city has been tied
up for more than a month because of the
grievance, real or imaginary. of a class of
wage earRers whose conduct during the
strike has shown them to be utterly devoid
of any sense of responsibility even TO their
own families. At any time during the
strike the mayor Of the city could have
preserved order, protected life, and shield
ed property from damage if he had been
disposed to exercise the authority vested
in him by the people who elected him to
Office. When it became evident that the
mayor was not disposed to assert the
majesty of the law it then became the duty
of the Governor Of the State to make vigor-
Gus application of his powers to situation
that is repfoach to the national sense of
security. 1t is further proof of our conten-
ton that all parties at times are afflicted
with small creatures in big places to state
that the incompetent mayor of ST. Louis is
Republican and the incompetent Governor
of Missouri is a Democrat.
However, there is no desire to shield
the Governor from the burden of respon-
sibility which now rests upon him. The
citizens of the distressed town, despairing
OF obtaining from their mayor the relief
for which they have shown a willingness
to shed their blood. for more than week
have been appealing in vain to the Cover
nor to protect their lives and property
from the menace which is hourly growing
worse. To all of these appeals Governor
Stephens has turned a deaf ear. Only a
few days ago he visited the city and wit
messed the disorder the riot, the anarchy,
the business paralysis. Fifty thousand
women of the city had petitioned him to
call out the militia to protect them from
insult and bodily harm after he had re-
fused to comply with similar request
from the best men in the community To
these women he has replied that there is
no money in the State Treasury with which
10 transport and subsist the troops This
fuge We should be in a sorry plight. in
deed, if anarchy and riot were TO go un. |
checked because legislators had failed to |
provide against them by making specific |
appropriations for their suppression. a |
wise, manly man in the executive chair
presence Of such a situation. He would |
find way TO transport and provision the
troops imperatively demanded to restore
order and protect helpless women from
the rufians of both sexes who are now ter
rorizing st. Louis
The great majority of the people of
Missouri are Democrats. They owe it TO their
party. no less than to their homes and |
country to repudiate the cowardly, cheese
pairing Stephens. They should lose no time
in calling mass meetings all over the State
10 protest against the disgrace to which
they are being subjected before
the astonished gaze of the ma
ton by their small-souled Cover
nor. This method undoubtedly would
stir him to the performance of his duty
Men OF his calibre are amenable 70 the
wishes of large bodies of peo-
pie. By his cowardly COURSE Stephens has
shown that he is especially amenabie TO
such expressions. The bowls of the mob
have frightened him into inactivity. The
Protest of the masses-with whom, we dare |
;ay. he is extremely anxious to be 'popu-
ar"-would embolGen him 10 initiate the |
conduct of a courageous, high minded man.
L would be still better If he could be |
mpeached and deposed-better for St.
.ouis. for Missouri, for the nation. and for
he Democratic party.