The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-25
THE HOUR AND THE MAN.

The nomination of Robert A Smith for
mayor by the Democrats of st. Paul will
bring strength to the wavering and hope
70 those whom the misunderstanding and
5sunion Of the past may have disheart-
ened. He heads ticket which will COM
mand the confidence and win the support
Of the Democratic and independent voters
Of the community. 1t embodies the pur-
pose OF the Democracy to bring to an end
a municipal administration which,
despsed by the mass of the party it rep
resents,. can command the sustainment of
no responsible elements of local society.
For four years past the Iaw-abiding
people of ST. Paul have had many un-
welcome truths forced upon them In
their persons and their homes they have
been made daily the victims of unmolest-
ed crime. The highwayman and the
burglar have been a constant menace to
their security. The confidence man and
the sneak thief have walked their streets
at will. Their police have not only been
helpless, but for the greater part of that
period have been the known abettors OF
crime. Up to the present hour the record
continues of men and women assaulted
and robbed each succeeding day on the
public streets, in the daylight as we'll as
at dark, and their homes broken into and
despoiled Neither peace nor security has
been available to the citizen. Under the
guise of the guardianship OF the public
interests by public officials deserving
members of the community have been
harassed in their private interests, iti-
cation stirred up and needless expense
and turmoil made to attend on public adj
ministration. No public work Of i'm
portance has been undertaken,no economy
effected and no heed given to any inter-
est public or private, save alone the in
terests Of existing oGceholders.
All this has come to pass with perfect
impunity to the offenders. 1t has been
the accompaniment of undisputed Repub-
lican control in every department of city
and county government 1t has been
made possible only through Democratic
dissension and i'll will. Had Democrats
been united, as men processing the same
political faith should be united. no one of
these deplorable conditions would hava
been possible But, so far from being
united, We have fought among ourselves
We have impugned each others motives
We nave allowed our political opponents
TO excite us to elimination and recrimi.
nation. While we have quarreled, thew
have despoiled the municipality. While
we have seen every vestigc of public
prestige and power pass from our party
5hey have grown reckless of public crit
cism and have brought injury and dis
repute upon the city which we all Low.
alike.
Has not the time come when all thi,
should be changed? Is there a substan
tial reason why the Democracy of St
Pau! should not be a unit? There are ,
hundred reasons that might be stated
why independent electors should and will
extend their support to the candidacy o
Robert A. Smith. Is there a single reaso,
why a single Democrat should Withhold,
his support from that candidacy?
Il is unfortunate indeed that the Hon
john W. Willis should have allowed him
self for the time to occupy an attitude
which places him in apparent antagonist
to The wishes of the mass of the part,
which he has served so loyalty He i
concededly one of the ablest, as ne is on
of the most devoted, members Of the De
mocracy. In the recent controversy arts
ing out of the misconduct of those VIII,
sought to usurp the powers and authorit,
of party organization, he was not in
volved But, no doubt, his mistaken view