The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-09-03
A VICTORY FOR pEcENCY.


All good citizens will congratulate the Republican
State COMMITTEE for the action which 1t has taken in
removing sixteen members of the City Committee OF
ST Louis who have been found guilty of ~treachery to
the party. Considered impartially, the victory is one
for decency in municipal politics.
Until the Board of Election Commissioners takes
final action IN deciding between the lists of judges and
clerks which have been presented by the Kerens- But
Ter element and those filed by the so-called reform ele-
ment, there is a doubt concerning the outcome. Yet
the laws of equity would seem 10 indicate that the r.
organized committee is the one which should he
recognized. II the old City Committee had openly an
nounced its desertion OF the party, there could he no
question as TO the authority and jurisdiction of the
State Committee. Equally so, If a majority in the
City Committee have been found guilty the State
Committed has a right to preserve the local organiza-
ton for the party.
That the victory has been won by such a narrow
margin shows the hold which the old Ziegenhein ma
chine had on the organization. By Its own admissions.
a combination of committeeman had deliberately
usurped the power OF nomination and had parcellcd
out n mOngrel ticket. The names were selected by 4
slate-making subcommittee which made a private com
pact with the manager of a third party. They usurped
powers belonging TO the party in a way TO call for
an indignant protest from the better element.
Action which has been taken justifes an anticipa-
non of cleaner politics in St Louis. If an amount or
energy had been spent in preventing supposed repre-
sentatives Of the Republican party from selling out
the organization equal to that which has been used in
voicinG protests against elections laws, there would
have been less occasion for complaint from any honest
Republican.
AS for the Meriwether organization. the dis
closures which have been officially made by the
Executive Committee Of the Republican State Com
mittee demonstrate that the laboring men who followed
the leadership of this political trader have been
grossly deceived and in exactly the manner related by
The Republic from the beginning Of Lee Meriwetheris
career as an independent politician.
A duty also devolves upon Democrats. BY the same
evidence which condemned the Ziegenhein element in
the Republican City Committee the Buffers are
again presented in their true light. They have plotted
nominees by agreements" with Meriwether.
The two COlonels-Phelps and Kerens-have re-
ceived 4 temporary setback in their plans Of combin-
ing all the bad elements for the purpose of controlling
the Legislature. Phelps has been thrown out of the
Democratic party, except in his own legislative dis
the agreement which was made in the offices OF the
Missouri Pacific May %. 1t remains for country Re
publicans to do as much.
All of these developments are of a sort TO en-
courage the better class of citizens to work together
for good government. Better candidates will be nomi-.
Republican State Committee. When all parties are
compelled to heed an aroused public sentiment public
spirited citizens can take courage.