The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-29
REPORT INCLUDES NO
NEW BRIBERY INDICTMENTS
Continued From Page One.

he tainted with so much fraud but in many
instances it was apparent that both politi-
cal parties were responsible Tor TINS con-
dition. Corrupt and incompetent men were
appointed as Judges and clerks OF election
in a number of the precincts which are con-
trolled by the baser elements OF our com,
munity. and the bargains made by the ward
and precinct bosses were cariieu ou@ Wy
these plant tools.
In our opinion, most of the frauds tha5
have been perpetrated In our city @ @couia
have been prevented II we had a better
election law and honest men were appoint-
ed as judges and clerks. A great deal mas
been said about the Nesbit law, ana many y
wholesale objections have been made TO II
without specifically pointing out Its dsIeets;
From our Investigation We nave conciuaeu
that this law should be AMENDED espeG,ai- ,sa-
ly regarding the centrai resistra''oh lea
ture at the City Hall.
ILLEGAL REGISTRATION
AT CITY HALL
Nearly all Of the illegal registration is
done at the City Hall. where the parties 2H
alone permitted. We think the. Cit, Hall
registration should be abolished and pre-,
cinct registration alone required, and the
statute should provide that the registration
books close at least thirty days before the
election. and printed lists OF reg.s1elet ,en ~
twenty days before the election thereoy
giving an Opportunity Of finding out raise
and padded registration. s o,.,uan
from reeisferinT. but this objection is over
come by the benefit resulting from the Ia,
cility. thus afforded for detecting illegal
The Circuit Judges should be made the
arbitrators Of the registration lists, so that
to that tribunal and stricken from the
lists It is largely true, however, that no
matter how good an election law may be.
there be honest judges and clerks. A bad
law with good Judges and clerks Is more
desirable than q good law with bad judges
and clerks.
MEN OF HIGH CHARACTER
NEEDED FOR JUDGES.
Only men of high character should be Sc
lected for these responsible places, and the
election law should be 80 amended that
those selected by the Eeetion io,,, Gommls % nnns-
PEELED to serve, in the same manner as petit
and grand jurors are now required to serve
when called upon IN our . eoIrs ,setxe he ,aw dnv
ties Of citizenship.
And we further recommend that Judges
sa be By the Judges
of the Circuit Court before qualifying. and
complete list of such judges and clerks
twenty days preceding an election. and that
such service as Judge or clerk shall exempt
such judge or clerk from jury duty during
The present election law is also defective
in the penalty clauses. which are at present
Kaleidoscope and mystifying in the ap-
parent ingenuity with which the clauses
were framed When the election law is
amended in accordance with these sugges-
tions. we think it would be fair and equita-
BILE, and honest elections would be the re-
suit There could then be no just cause for
complaint by any one.
ACKNOWLEDGE THANKS
FOR FOLKS SERVICES.
In conclusion we desire to acknowledge
the eminent services. counsel and advice
cheerfully accorded us at all times by that
fearless public official and terror TO evil
doers. our natchless Circuit Attorney, Jo-
seph W. Folk
We also desire to thank the Assistant Cir
cult Attorney. W. s. Hancock. for his uni
form courtesy and kindness, and appreciate
his arduous labors, earnest work and un-
firing efforts in bringing the guilty to JUS
tice. Respectfully submitted.
ARTHUR H GALE,
Foreman.