The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-09-01
FIGHTING FOR MISSOURI.

which can perceive anything in politics except boost
ing this or that clique of politicians into office.
Both the organs have been asking why The Re-
public says 50 much about Kerens and So little about
Democratic candidates for the United States Soma
torship.
The Republic does not attempt to pick candidates
for the Democratic party. and it does not care i rush
whom the party dominates as long as the nominee;
are men whom it can honestly support.
No more does it care about Kerels or Fie.ps or
Butler or Meriwether as an individual. It's objection
to these men. like its objection TO such Democrats as
Senators Farris and Orchard. is that they are evil in
fuences in politics and enemies 10 tie pr, Gress of
the community and State.
In explanation Of The Republics consistent course
OF aniagonism 10 such Influences there is no necessity
for exploiting high theoretical ideals, however praise
worthy they may he. The attitude Of the Republic
Is easy enough 10 understand on the plane IF mere
material business.
Go back a little. Missouri has suffered :ricyous:y
from the grip of corruption in politics. With Il ciIi-
zenship equaled by that OF few commonwealth. it has
been hampered by some parasites whose hold was
tenacious through the power Of political organization.
The lobby has been too potent in State politics. The
bOodlers and grafters have been too prominent in the
municipalities. And with the lobbyists and %sraftars
have travelled the sandbaggers and den.agoGucs who
have made trade for boodleism. while alarming with
their threatened blackmail every ente,prising busi-
ness interest.
Remember the old School Beard. Remember the
spreading disgrace of municipal politics which cul-
minated in the Ziegenhein administration. Pc
member the Haunting boastfulness of the lobby at
jefferson City. 1t is not hard to see why a news
paper which represents the business interests of ~.
Louis and the progressive classes of the whole State.
which has hoped earnestly that the Worlds Fair
period might fructify in a great DEVELOPMENT OF wealth
and culture. should do its best 10 expeI the agencies
whit make for retrogression.
The Democratic party Of Missouri has been afflicted
with lobby agents and selfish political fxers. rhe
Republican machine-nOt the votsrs-has been abso-I
lutely owned and operated by lobbyists and spOilsmen.
Thousands of the best Republicans have been for
years admitting this unhappy truth and chafing n;
their inability TO revolutionize the methods Of party
organization.
Organization has its unquestioned advantages and
will always be the system under which great parties
will he conducted. Its most serious disadvantage is
the opportunity it offers TO men who have neither
capacity to do public service nor principle to direct
their aspirations. By assIduously lahoring for the
sole end Of obtaining power within the organization
these men frequently become the official representa-
tiyes of large bodies of votcrs-the voters enduring
their ascendency for the sake Of general party unity
and in the hope that next year" they may be dis
lodged.
In the Democratic party Senator Farris IS a con-
spicuous example of this sort of thing. Probably
there are not a score of voters in his district who
would voluntarily support him. But he has obtained
control Of the machinery and thus can make terms
with many political busybodies as well as many pdit-
zeal suckers" With that advantage he. and the self
ish interests to which he is directly bound. can force
his nomination. Then he stalks forth as a regular
party nominee, cracks the whip. bulldozes the State
organization and cows the weak minded who have not
nerve enough TO follow the rule that organization is
a means, not an end; and the sequence that when o.
ganization becomes an evil revolution is the remedy.
The Republic has fought Phelps, Farris. Orchard
and the Buffers just as it fought kerens and Kalb-
fell and the Ziegenheinites. The same political theory
Of good government condemns all of them. The wei
fare OF city and State calls for their suppression.
Here in ST. Louis this morning the better element
is struggling against the gang which has obtained
control OF the local Republican organization. These
decent Republicans find themselves about 10 be COM
mitted by u scheming leadership to n revolving alliance
with the most dangerous factors in city and State
politics. They find themselves in front of a COM
pulsion to choose between boiling regular nominees
and voting for men who are neither Republicans nor
good citizens. The Republics sympathy is with this
better element. The reckless policy Of the majority
in the City Committee has afforded ample jnstifca-
ton for unsearing the whole gang by authority of
the State Committee. The Committee has formally
found the gang guilty of treason to the party. 1t is
the opportunity of years. Probably the Executive
Committee will not have courage enough TO seize the
opportunity TO reorganize the City Committee. III it
does possess the courage II can get rid Of the bad in
fuences and resuscitate the party spirit without which
no party can either do good or succeed. The Re-
publican party would be stronger for the operation. 1t
would be still stronger it it could get rid Of Kerens,
the pie-chasers and the lobby creatures in the State at
large. But The Republic would welcome the change.
Make the Republican party present its best men and
its most deservedly attractive appearance. Then the
Democratic party and all other political bodies will be
by something like honorable competition to
utilize their best material. The entire commonwealth
will be benefited and the city of ST. Louis will be sure
Of good government. whatever happens.
The two Republican organs, so busy with fixing
things for smallbore politicians. and 50 wretchelly
shortsighted in their assaults on what are really the
most worthy features of State government. would
have no difficulty in understanding The Republics OPP
position to Kerens If they would face the plain facts
about bis methods In politics.
PEGASUS AND THE WORLDS FAIR