The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-16

In engrossing the election law pre-
pared by the Jefferson Club the State Sem
showed itself unwilling to consider any
amendment coming from the Republican
side The club manifested the same spirit
in drawing up the law. All offers OF Re
publican cooperation or suggestion were re-
PEELED. BY passing the Jefferson Club
election law, they Senators from rural dis
tricts) will assist in destroying their own
political influence as well as that Of the
Republicans
So says the Globe organ Of the Republican ma
chine wilfu slanderer and political hypocrite. The
Globe declares that the election bill is unsatisfactory;
yet that organ has failed to show any defects in it.
although repeatedly challenged to do The bald
allegation ia made and in support denied
Defects cannot be found in the bill Therefore, the
holding to dsreputable methods, attack
the motives Of the trainers.
There is only one implication from the Globes
sault on the Jefferson Club bill and the Democrats in
the state Senate That is that the Globe desires that
the Nesbt law remain in force. If its assault were
sincere it would take up sections Of the bill and show
where they Objectionable In TRUTH the bill is the
best of its kind that has been submitted in the
challenged to denynot with spectacular political sub
terfuge, but with reasons and facts.
The Globes Intentions well explained in this
statement made'by the Globe in its ASSAULT But it is
lamentably true that the Democratic party Of Mis-
souri,, as controlled, has sanctioned the worst
form of partisan election laws, and is again fencing
Off Republicans from any share in their preparation
and enactment" In other words, the Globe regrets
that the Republican partisans cannot prepare and
act the worst form Of partisan election laws" The
Globe spoke the truth about Its partisans for
But it revels in absolute untruths about the State
Legislature and the committee of the Jefferson Club
which formulated the bill The charge that the Legis
ature and the committee refused to receive sugges
tons from Republicans is entirely false and malicious
The committeeman did ask for suggestions from repre-
sentative Republicans though 1t did not court any
vice from the clamorous issuehunters. And, as the
columns Of the Globe will show, many Republicans
appeared before the Joint committee of both branches
Of the General Assembly and stated their on the
electi subject. These gentlemen could offer no i'm
portrait objections to the Jefferson Club BILL Some
Of them praised it emphatcaly.
Why, a rational proposition, should the Jefferson
Club committee have invited the Republican partisans
to aid in constructing a law? In the FIRST place
these partsans had laid all blame for the Nesbit law
on the Democratic party. Therefore, 1t was not
strange that the Democratic party chose to assume
responsibility for an improved law. In the second
place. these partisans had agreed among themselves
to vocferae for reenactment Of the law of 1895 un
der which the Republican gang Of hooters and corrup
tioniss had obtained control OF the cis funds The
committee, knowing what these partisans would ad-
wise, had only to read the law Of 1895.
The Globe and the Republican gang resortins to
ignobe tactics in defaming bill which they are un-
willing criticise section by section They are insult
ing the Legislature with the object possible Of de-
featng the pending bill They allege that the bill is
designed for dishonest purposes that the Demo
cratic party can "stea elections: they class it with
the Nesbit law, which they have denounced.
Two courses are open to the Globe In This matter.