The St. Louis Republic., 1903-12-31
sCANT CONSOLATION.


sion to Missouri suggests desire the part o
Eastern Republicans to throw darkness over some
weak spots nearer home. If Repubcanism in it
own haunts and Businesses isn't sufficiently strons
to sustain hope, certainly there isn't much nspra-
tion to be derived from the situation out here il,
this alien atmosphere.
Such consolation as It may find in Missouri how
ever, the Republican party is welcome to take The
politicians consist of a Babel tongued rabbe OF
factionaists, not Of whom has ever entertained
thought above the level of the pie-counter. They
haven't half the interest in the State poIitica
unit which is manifested, or feigned, the case
may be, by the Eastern gentlemen who are favorins
us with their attention
Not one Of the local luminaries cares rap about
carrying Missouri; they don't even talk about +;
such taik invariably originates elsewhere. Garry
ing" city is the limit of their desire-and when
they achieve it. as showE by the Republican behav
ior during Doodle regime, it Is almost equivalent
to carrying the city off. Comparatively few of the
people of st. Louis indeed of the State would
consent to intrust the affairs of government to the
cotere of socaled Republicans who have at various
times in the past few years demonstrated what the!
could do when they he'd city State Office. Judged
by past conduct, Missouri Republican politicians
when they aren't looting are wrangling
Anu JUST now tnere are more 1actlOnS ana more
internecine warfare than at any other time in the
party's local history. Let a single of pres
ent Republican leaders" rise up and declare dig
nifed purpose to work for the national partys ends
in the State and it will bring forty other leaders to
their feet In derison and denunciation That this
Kind Of conduct, prolonged for years, has bred
deep and intense disgust and has largely dissipaeG
party loyalty among the rank and file of Republic
ans throughout the State Is plain to any observer.
Republican dsloyalty is in the Missouri atmosphere
Thousands of your good everyday Republican citi-
zens ready upon slight provocation to vote
a Democratic ticket
On the other hand, recent years have tended
further to ngratiate Democracy with the people.
A low tax rate economical government and wipiDg
out State debts are facts which have strengthened
the party. Mr. Folk in his speech at st. Joseph
enumerated some Of the facts which entitled the
Democratic administration to credit and commended
1t to the people. Congressman Benton in forcibie
presentation calls the public attention to these and
other facts, and to some of the conditions which
bespeak a certainty of Democratic success next
year. To the Eastern gentlemen who express hope
full opinions of Republican success Benton gives
apt reply.
Says he: THE talk about Republicans carrying
Missouri is not based on any knowledge of condi-
t0nS 1t Is true that ma10rt1eS IN recent years nave
been comparatively small but there has been no In
centiye for all the voters to ont to the polls
so certain was Democratic supremacy. We have
full line Of Democratic officials in seventy of the 114
counties Of the State. In twenty more Of the coun
ties part of the officials are Democrats.
There Democratic majority of fifty on
joint ballot in the last Legislature both branches Of
which lad total Of III members. We have now
fifteen of the sixteen members of the National House
from Missouri; twentyfour of the thirtytwo Circuit
Judges are Democrats.
ut Is claimed that an aggressive campaign might
overcome our majority. The exact contrary is true.
The Republicans can make no effective argument
against The tax rate in Missouri is about this
lowest of any State in the Union-eighteen cents on
800. third of that .goes for the School Fund.
When we recovered the State from the Republicans
the tax rate fifty cents and Furthermore there
debt of s230O0.OO0 which has been wiped OIL.
during the Democratic regime, not to mention So.
100000 thercabouts of interest"
A further fact should be borne in mind by the
gentlemen who are looking for consolation in Mis-
souri,, which is that as between the parties Democ
racy has all the best of the Doodle argument. Th,
Republican party has been the chief offender, IL boo
die is to be made issue. and the Democratic party
has done all the prosecuting.