Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-08-06

people are sovereign and have IL ia
Their power TO correct public evils
or by Indifference, allow them TO %
on. o.
Ignorance Of existing
conditions the people may innoce,t-
~ no wronE, hat toIerntiop Of
kn""r abuses ~ criminal, IL th,
people desire good government they
can get Ii, for they mr.. sunr.u
rhere are many honest public
servants I'm -~.issouri, there are
many who have come through the
merry ordeal of investigation uH-
h"rmed and u~nnshamed. There are.
aiso' many officials In Missouri who
nave been eonscienceIess, and their
c"pidtty has been such as to shock
the civilized world.
These and their allies have fast
cned themselves Ike vampires ON
the state. and IL will require the
best efforts of good CITIZEN. IN ai.-
lodge them.
rhese conditions are the ont
grow OF the commentator Of our
times.
In the one great sentiment of civic
honor We nre behind the days of our
~forefathers. The desire for luxury,
the mania for speculation, has
caused n departure from the divine
injunction, "in the sweat OF thy
face shalt thou eat bread.
Too many men seek wealth without
the corresponding inclination to labor
for its achievement. Political COM
merclahsm has taken the place in
many mems minds of patriotism.
Public office is held too often merely
as a mean of earning u livelihood
easier than in private life. We need
more of the patriotism Of peace IA
private and public life. There must
be a revival of civic righteousness in
state and municipal affairs.
The revelations of official corrup-
ton in st. Louis and Missouri read
ike a tale from the Arabian Nights.
Officials elected to represent the in
t%erests of the city betrayed theit
trust and sold themselves for gain,
Combines we're formed in the house
of delegates and city council. These
combines held regular meetings in
due parliamentary form. Prices were
fixed on all ordinances of any value;
prices net for the city, but TO go into
the itching palms of these public pill
ferers. There is to-day locked up in
two safe deposit boxes in the city of
st. Louis one corruption fund of $780,
600, which has been used as evidence
in court. This was put up by the leg
i~slative agent of a street railroa1
company, in response to a demand
from members of the municipal as
sembly as brides for their votes in
passing a franchise ordinance.
For another franchise $25O,000 in
brides was paid TO the members Of
the preceding assembly. This fran
ehise was afterward sold for $780,.
900, but the city received not a cent.
Twenty-three of the twenty-eight
members of the house of delegates
took brides of 81, 900 each for this fran.
chise. Seven members Of the council
obtained from $4,000 to S17. 500 each
for their votes. One councilman was
given $4,000 to vote against the fran
chise and afterward accepted $4,000
to vote in favor NJ it. lie returned
the $4,000 to the nan who gave il %
him, saying he did not believe he
could honestly keep Il without
earning" it by giving his vote in ac-
cordance with the terms Of purchase
Upon reflection he likewise sent the
$4,000 back, with the hope Of getting
more, He finally voted for the ordi-
nance with the expectation and under
promise of obtaining 100000 for his
vote. His friend, the promoter, div
appointed him by leaving the city
early the next day without paying
him. More in sorrow than in anger
the official tracked the promoter TO
New York, and after much difficulty
succeeded in obtaining $1,000, but not
until the promoter had him sign ii
certificate of character saying, 81
have heard rumors in st. Louis tina.
you paid members of the assembly
for their votes. | want to say that
| am in a position TO know. and l do
know that you are as far above offer
ing a bride as | am above receiving
one." This was literally true, as the
official had taken brides right and
left, and the promoter had bodied
on a giganti scale in getting his bill
through the municipal assembly.
Seven members of the council, elect.
ed to serve the people at a salary of
$500 a year. yer paid a regular sal
airy of $4,000 yearly to represent cor
porate interests. A lighting bill was
bribed through the house Of dele
gates for s47,50o. The bargain was
made right on the floor of the house.
The money was given to one of the
members, ard after the meeting they
met in the home of one of their mum
Der, where the pie" was cut and the
money divided, while the host merrily
to his own accompaniment the
old song of Home, Sweet Home"
Nineteen members of another house
Of delegates obtained 5000 each as
brides for their votes on still another
franchise. Indeed, no bill Of conse-
1uence passed the assembly for
years unless the members were paid
for their official action. Schedules of
nribe nrices were established. ranp-