The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-12-26
DOODLE.

Doodle as a topic has for Il long time attracted the
interest and curiosity of the American. Not only the
st. Louis public. but the entire country has rlveted
attention upon the series of prosecutions at our Four
Courts, now twelve months in progress and as yet
but fairly launched.
Such things as coal strikes. wars of conquest.
revolutions and international difficulties have failed
10 divert attention from these prosecutions and the
striking illustration of municipal reform presented to
the nation.
1t is reasonable 10 predict that for the next two
years our Doodle campaign will retain its place as Il
foremost topic in the public mind. Fourteen convic-
tions have been obtained thus far, only one of which
has been reviewed by the Supreme Court. In this
instance the Supreme Court practically sustained the
contentious of the prosecution, but reversed and re-
manded the case upon technical points in the record.
y majority of the cases have yet to be tried by jury.
and the whole will doubtless then pass before the
higher court. whose decisions will be received with
scarce less interest than the results Of the jury trials.
The subject. striking home as it does everywhere,
has aroused the nation to- alertnesS and something of
apprehension. Sclf-eXamination has been the result.
Cities have asked themselves the question: How far
shall municipal corruption he tolerated? Public
opinion has been strengthened nearly to Il point of
resolution. When firm resolve shall have implanted
itself, then may the world expect widespread conse-
quences of ST. Louis's initiative and example.
New York'S Tweed revelations occasioned but a
measure of general alarm at home conditions. Few
were the tangible results in other cities. They saw
only the mote in New York's eye. Then, corruption
in cities had not been accepted as Il world fact. Since
Tweed days many other municipalities have dis
closed Il like. if less. state of misrule and dishonesty.
but these have been almost ignored. overshadowed
by the recollection of the historic Tweed days.
Within the past quarter century the general topic
of municipal government and its attendant evils has
steadily grown in interest, and has commanded the
thought of Americas best minds. Statesmen and
publicists, men of national repute and authors of re-
noWn have dealt with the topic in p~rofuse volumes.
1t has been the conscientious effort of journalism
Systematically to educate the public mind to a reali-
cation of fundamental evils and to an understanding
of civic responsibilities; and that all these efforts
have not been wasted is proven by the universal in
terest manifested in st. Louis's tangible lessons.
The seeds of reform which have been sown so
widely these many years must sooner or later bring
forth a full result. No people vitality concerned
with questions Of welfare will long endure grave,
foreboding evils. clearly perceived and understood.
Cities can no longer plead ignorance of the causes
of misrule and its attendant mischiefs. In the simple
last analysis those causes are the absence in the in
dividual of a sense of personal. civic responsibility.
That sense has been somewhat awakened by the
sfaring spectacle held aloft 10 the country by this
city. Fixed resolve and conscientious assumption of
individual duty must rebound TO civic betterment
throughout the land.
Mere trivial curiosity in the sensational features
of st. Louis's object lesson will not produce benefit.
nor will spasmodic alarm of cities; but studious, pro-
found introspection will be a far step toward lasting
Improvement.