The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-16
IF. n. JUDSON DEFINtS
CAMPAIGN ISSUES.
Tells Why Business Interests of
the City Demand Election
of Democrats.
fARKER'S HANDS ARE TIED.
Could Not Turn Out of Office Men
Who Support Him-Charles 7.
Noland Also Speaks at
MONDAY Meeting.
FARKER's HANDS ARE TIED.

f. n. Judson was the principal speaker a
the MONDAY meeting in the downtown
headquarters of the Jefferson Club in tn,
Carleton Building yesterday.
The rooms were packed to their fulles
capacity. Charles T. Noland made a brie
speech. He alluded to his long acquaint
ance with Rolla Wells and Interestingly de
scribed the qualities of his nature. which
he said, could be epitomized in the words
honesty. ability and sincerity. He then re
viewed the Ziegenhein administration ant
| showed why every citizen that has the
| welfare of the city at heart should vote the
| Democratic ticket. Mr.. Judson was mex
| introduced He said:
Such gathering in business hours ir
! the business center of a great city is the
strongest evidence OF the interest in the
| pending municipal campaign. In cannot be
too much emphasized that this is neither a
| national nor State campaign. The ques-
ticns involved are purely those relating to
| municipal government. the selection of pub
| lie servants to administer the affairs of the
| municipality for the next four years. Busi-
| ness rather than political considerations
| should govern the selection of candidates
| for such offices at all times. and parties
are only the agencies for securing the pub
| lie good. 1t is not the wealthy taxpayers
| ment but the humblest citizens in the COM
! munity have the deepest interest. because
| they cannot fly from the evils OF misgovern-
| ment.
Republicans Evade Issues.
zone would not know from Republican
speeches that this is municipal campaign.
SO carefully do they refrain from discus
sing municipal issues and the municipal
record of the present administration. The
Mayor Of st. Louis cannot change the cleo
ton laws OF the state any any more cnsn.is than ne
but he can aid the people In securing ciean
| streets, pure water and an honest and eco
nomical municipal administrati9n ira In,c-., is
| sues IS now greatly increased by the fact
that St. Louis is facing the greatest Crisis
in its history It has voted % sS"V Conetifus e4nus
tional and Charter amendments Will not
only involve an increase in the income from
taxation but will lead to & EXTENSIVE hnn PUPILS
will be made, from which large expenditures
will be made for public improvements and
public buildings.
1.-The Republican machine which nominat-
ed Mr.. Parker. and which would like TO
elect him, has been in undsputed control
of the city administration for the last four
Mr.. Judson referred TO the Nasel re-
trenchment bill, introduced in 1895. and he
referred to Mr.. Charles Nasel, then Presi-
dent Of the City Council, as conscientious
and independent public official. He con-
tinued:
"This measure involved a saving OF some
$50 900 a year ii, the different departments
by discharging unnecessary employees. Not
only was nothing done with this measure
but two years afterwards. Immediately, fol-
the notorious Wittenberg bill was passed
which created an army of city inspectors
at an increased annual salary expense of
more than $120,01O. The reckleSsness of this
expenditure can be best illustrated by COM
pairing the number Of offices and employees
authorized therein with the provisions of
the retrenchment bill introduced by Mr..
Hodges in the Council in 1893. Mr.. Hodges's
bill fell upon deaf ears, and his proposal
was treated with contempt Mr.. Hodges in
mercial Club, commented upon the deplora-
BILE condition of the city's finances, and said
that there would continue to be misman-
agement as long as the political boss is
permitted to put his henchmen on the city's
pay roll and keep them there
Probability of Reform
Assuming that the candidates for Mayor
which man could act for the best interests
of the city by discharging unnecessary EN-
ployes in this vast army-Mr. Parker, who
elected by their votes and the votes of their
organization. or Mr.. Wells. elected in spite
of them and in opposition to them9 From a
question that Mr.. Wells Will be the most
effective agent for accomplishing that pur-
pose. Mr.. Parker, however good his inten-
character
are conceded,could not in the nature of
things fail to be embarrassed by beini; com
PEELED to act against the very men through
elected.
Il call attention to the reckless granting
OF public franchises for the use OF our
from financial necessities of the city by the
eXacton of compensation for these grants.
L L Will not say how or to whom the COM
franchises. but it certainly was not maid in
to the City Treasury.
Mr.. Wells is pledged to a business ad-
OF the army of city. employees to the needs
an economic administration demands
would not vote fer Mr. Wells If | did not
pledges
But the Republican managers not only
dwell upon the, election laws, which the
Of policy of diverting public attention from,
issues they insist that the nn1ica
expense IS too great. But the Supreme Court
naopertY is 1mat nof ,he protection of life and
function. If we see fit to waste the mnn;cie
pal revenue in granting franchises and with
less has the right to interfere i'm the r,rotane
ton of life and property.
Need for Eus.ncss Administrator
IF we increase the number of CITY ON.
ployes FOR political reasons. for the creation |
Of poiitieal i d.h machine. is 1t to be wondered
the State Legislature would be governed by |
the same considerations in the control of |
tne ponce! BUSINESS and not political con-
siaera.ions @ % should control both departments.
and. indeed: every department of the public !
service. but our Municipal Assemble re- |
fused even to submit the question of n merir |
service to the vote of the people. although |
It was demanded by petition of some fifiv |
thousand voters. '
1T IS said that the police expense is too |
great ana that the number and pay of the
force should be reduced. Even If that is |
ttue: oe ana the police expense for sixty miles
ment be bes. secured by having n MavSr II,
political sympathy with the dominant party |
IN the State, so that such 4 question can
oe 1e . Siscussed ana determined on a business.
rather than on political, basis?
watch on the streets where any puhlic
WORK Is pelnS done, and see the army of in |
ot speesors tors employed b12 by the city. Why could
done by the policemen, whose duty II is to
patrol the streets? In other words. why
should We maintain two great armies at the
cost OF the taxpayers when the work could
ne done IN great measure by one? These
fact. can only be effected, through an adj
in political harmony with the
State administration"
with which the General Assembly had
passed the constitutional amendments re-
quired for ST. Louis with the delay of the !
Municipal Assembly in passing the Charter
ton Of the Democrats in holding an early .
SO that their nominations could |
be carefully scrutiniZed by the public in |
ample time for independent nominations. |
while the Republican nominations were |
made too late for that purpose. He said |
that the Democratic party has made an |
effective appeal to the Independent senti- |
ment of the city.