The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-03
BIAS AND

~ AA-A' -h->D ASoDhbA
Pittsburg is described in the current issue of an
Eastern magazine as "A City Ashamed" The author
of the complimentary article with the uncomplimen-,
tary title is the same who. in the anne Magazine,
wrote of official crime in Minneapolis as 'The Shame
of Minneapolis and who misrepresented conditions
here in an article entitled "The Shamelessness of st.
Louis
Bias on the part Of the writer seems clearly mani
fest in references which he makes in the Pittsburg
article to criminal practices in four American cities.
Comparing Pittsburg with these other cities. he states
that it is a little worse than New York and Min
Eeapolis. yet that it is better than ST. Louis. This
may be his personal opinion, but it is an opinion that
facts. as related by him, positively disprove.
Minneapolis cannot be scheduled as a bad city
solely on account Of the disreputabe work of a Mayor
whom it has punished; nor can st. Louis be char
acterized as the most degraded city in. the country
because criminal practices have here been exposed
and evildoers prosecuted. If all that Mr.. Stefens
says Of Pittsburg is true, the degradation of that city
is far worse than that of any Western or Northern
city. The story of official crime in Pittsburg, as told
in. this magazine, is a revelation that by comparison
does high honor to st. Louis and Minneapolis
st. Louis and Minneapolis are cities reformed,
though they may be too far west and north to get due
credit for effecting their redemption. And. though
the writer refers to The Shamelessness of st. Louis
and The Shame of Minneapolis he mildly calls
Pittsburg "a City Ashamed and proceeds to assert
that the Pennsylvania city has not only been COM
pletely at the mercy Of political rings, but that efforts
at reform have been infrequent, feeble and unsuccess-
full; that the financial powers and influential men of
the city were benefciaries of the ring and so shackled
that they dared not openly aid q reform movement.
Crime fourished in ST. Louis only a comparatively
short time. While it fourished it was exposed from
day to day in the press and public anger promptly
cut the reign of crime short at the first opportunity.
The people elected Mayor Wells and Circuit Attorney
Folk and a reform administration to punish criminals
ments were made that Mr.. Folk and the Grand Jury
had obtained evidence against corruptionists, the
whole city applauded and all citizens, rich and poor.
offered assistance in the good work. Approval was
also bestowed from the beginning on Mayor Wells
and all gocd-government officials.
st. Louis may appear shameless to some persons,
but this city's shamelessness would be a valuable
asset for any American municipality. 1t has a con-
s%cientious and capable Mayor, a conscientious and
capable Circuit Attorney, a City Council entirely
above reproach, a House Of Delegates at least half
good, and chiefs, at the head Of all municipal depart
ments, whose work in their respective spheres is of
the same quality as that which appears in the work
of Mayor Wells and Circuit Attorney Folk.
The municipal government of st. Louis is unsur-
| passed in any city in the United States. The people
| are so well satisfied with their efforts at reform that
they invite the comments of investigators to whom
| conditions and facts strongly appeal. Exposures of
crime perhaps gave the impression that crime still
! prevails in public office. But fair investigation will
show conclusively that governmental reform has been
actually accomplished in st. Louis.