The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-12
REFORM THE HOUSE.

Yesterdays Democratic City Convention con
firmed the results in the primaries in nominating
candidates for the House Of Delegates. The nom
nation Of good the Council ticket does not
lessen the duty of citizens in the wards TO reform
the House.
The Eleventh Ward has taken the initiative in
the independent movement for a better House OF
Delegates The candidate selected TO oppose the Re
publican and Democratic nominees is Il business man
and former president of the Carondelet Business
Mems Association. He is Jchn H. Utholf.
The independent candidate opposes Edward
Koen. the Republican nominee, who is at present a
member of the House and who has voted consistently
with the majority known the combine. Mr.. Koeins
influence with the majority is well shown in his cleo
tion as Speaker pro tenn His association with the
majority is sufficient against his reelection
representative of the Eleventh Ward
The Democratic candidate is Edward ]. ONeii!.
who may be personally honest, but who is like Dele
gate Denny, the employe of railroad. Employees Of
concerns which derive special privileges from the
municipality cannot be entirely dsinterested in the
Municipal Assembly; they can scarcely be expected
to serve two masters.
If Mr.. Uthof is of the right kind TO represent the
Eleventh Ward. and he to be- the respectable
people of the ward work hard to elect him. He
will not succeed unless his friends be vigilant and
active They will have to bring the respectable cti-
sasm for him.
Other wards which desire real representation in
the House instead of Misrepresentation will do well
to emulate the Eleventh Ward Some of the nominees
in each party wofully unsatisfactory. Many of
them belong TO the present combine in the House.
Some of them have come within the Grand Jurys in
QUESTION. Very few of them are fit. Scarcely any
come up to the present good-government standard.
The respectable people of ST. Louis have not yet
appeared to realize the fundamental issue of this
campaign They have great duty at this time. and
they should take advantage of remedies within their
power The blame for the result Of next months cleo
ton will entirely with the good people of Che city
They may blame only themselves If incompetent and
Enthusiastically elected to the House.
Mayor Wells the City Council and the city's adj
mnistrative officers have given st. Louis good gov
ernment They have made reform standard. Cir
cult Attorney Felix has exposed Illegal methods that
prevailed the House of Delegates and has brought
legislators into court to charges of bribery
and perjury.
Some of the nominees for the House. on both tick
cts stand those practices of which the people and
the law disapprove. They antagonistic TO the
principles which guide Mayor Wells, Circuit Attorney
Folk and the good government officials. Do the wards
desire such men in the House: The voters must de-
eide They must decide before it is late to file
independent nominations Let them in each ward Sc
ect good man. convince him that his duly is to lead
the movement circulate petition and place his name
regularly before the Election Commissioners. Then
have an active ward campaign and an organization to
protect the voting. The House will be improved by
the election of least few good and fearless citi
zens.