The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-01-04
TOUCH TIE BUTTON.

TOUCH THE BUTTON.
1t requires nothing so turbulent and sensational as
revolutionary force 10 rout vice and purge a city gov
ernment. The process is exceedingly simple-iust /:
sequence of quiet. everyday events. Without AFRO
eating 10 itself any of that disasreeablc. pliarisaica
superiority which its own recent crusade for clean
government might naturally inspire. st. Louis may
tender Il recipe TO gang ridden cities. There is ne
startling novelty or originality in the ~recipe-a de
termined. fearless Grand Jury and a prosecuting of.
iicer with honesty and courage.
Twelve men sworn to duty to act upon clews and
evidence. which will he found ready to hand. ana an
honest State officer 10 pursue the work-that is all.
In the ease of the large cities which are just now
laid under corrupt rule the evidence will not he diff.
cult of procurement. Such evidence is never far he
meath the surface. Usually it is patent to the eye. 1t
has occupied some time. though no great while. in
st. Loniss prosecutions TO formulate the evidence
against boodlers. 10 sort and classify il. but the mass
of it was easily obtained.
On the principle thar nothing succeeds like suc-
cess. nothing accumulates like evidence when some
has been found. Much of bur evidence came from
unexpected sources. Much was volunteered. Men
eagerly sought 10 aid the Grand Jury. and guilty par
ties rushed to unbOsom themselves when the crisis
came. Where il seemed expedient Il few were al
lowed 10 turn States evidence. Many criminals fed.
but even seine of these rcpentel Of 'hight-nOt be-
cause conscience-stricken, especially. but because
flight increased the burden and shame-and returned
TO throw themselves on the States mercy. The evil
dence enmassed like an avalanche. Already fourteen
convictions have been secured. aud the movement is
but Il year old.
Public opinion is ripe over the country for an over
hauling of municipal concerns. In the great mu-
inequalities now suffering from Acknowledgement and
crime, q Grand jury has but TO press 4 button and
the force of American honesty will do the rest.
There need be no prolonged campaign such ms Til
den and his associates waged for Tweel's overthrow.
Then the general sentiment was by no means so
strong as now. However strongly intrenched are
rings and bosses. they cannot withstand public opin-
ion thoroughly aroused. Minneapolis within the year
has demonstrated this truth. Nowhere has there
been Il ring more firmly rooted than the Ames ring.
not even Tweed's. Foreman Clark of the Grand
Jury began the business by picking up a little thread
OF clew. Immediately the city fOcked to his support.
sustaining his arms while the battle ragged. There is
no alternative. no possibility of defeat; once begun.
the fight is won for decency.
No issue presents itself with such force to the
as that of municipal corruptien. He is not
much on the ounce of prevention. but strong on the
pound of cure. He will remain letharslc while
vice creeps in, but let something touch the button and
arouse him TO the necessity for actfon and he is a
transformed being. II he lacks initiative, he is an
eager soldier when it comes to backing I'D the heroes
Of reform.
Few of the great centers have the temerity to DENY |
the existence Of Doodle and crime within their mu-
nicipal gates. vet seemingly none at present except
st. Louis possesses the high quality Of courage and
to rise and throw off its burden and
stigma. Soon or late these cities must find the con-
1iton insupportable. just as st. Louis did. Their
present Inertia and lethargy is but a temporizing. /
Why not seize the golden moment now while public
opinion and American manhood stand ready to sup
port the work, stirred to the pitch of resolution? Why
lefer the inevitable?
Philadelphia, Baltimore. Boston, New YOrk-in any
II these a Grand Jury to press the button will meet
strong response from the public, now: later per-
not. And as for prosecuting officers. ass,lredly
Mr.. Folk is not sui generis. There are many others
like kind. No doubt they are able and honest in
he Eastern cities. Let the. Grand Juries p1t them
o work. The button is ready to hand.