The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-25
YOUNG MEMS CHANCE.

YOUNG MEMS CHANCE.
Politics Ia q pursuit if not a profession 1t is also
a bir business success in which ordinarily is In
timately bound up the principle of compact organ
izatiOn In any other big business 1t offers ieSltl-
mate rewards in prominence honors ana financial
returns. In no other walk of life have honest men
greater opportunity to serve the community at large
and In no other field have dishonest men such n
chance to undermine society," 1t is game, fasci-
Mating game and well worth the playing despite the
general obloquy under which politics and politicians
have fallen
The chance exists for the young professional man
to enter politics in all sections of the city and country
BY cOnscienousy choosing party, by holding in mind
that surrender of principles is not essential to popu-
larity. and then by pitching in at the very bottom
and aborng to organize other men as coworkers ana
followers. the ambitious young lawyer minus prac-
tce gains acquaintance, influence, business, and is
doing work which is very vital to the future OF the
nation. He may gain high and lucrative station.
More and more the primary elections increase IN
Importance. 1t may be said that when the ward
committeeman of ST. Louis are elected, half the city
government is chosen According to the system"
votes talk. The ward committeeman, having been
elected by his ward. is generally assumed to repre-
sent majority of votes within his party in the ward
In other words, he Controls. Consequently, when it
comes to distribution of appointve Offices it is
reckoncd that the ward committeeman. if he be in
truth the boss and not dummy, is entitled to ap-
portion one twenty eighth share of the patronage
In many cities this patronage is totaled in dollars
divided into equal portions per ward. and appoint
,nents made under an ironclad rule upon this percent
age.
Obviously there is some theoretical reason in the
practice. Obviously Also the safety of the public
under such an arrangement largely lies with the
ward committeeman. More obvious is it, then, that
the public is concerned in the ward committeeman
He is of the most important persons selected by
party. The committeeman united in the city general
committee In large metropolis where modern meth!
DDS of political organization obtain, WELD power
than the Mayor himself.
The average citizen knows about as much of ward
politics the proverbia duck knows Of integral cal
culus The average citizen pays no heed to the ward
committeeman save to sneer at him and scohingly
speak of him the ward heller. Until the average
citizen is reused to action by a few energetic, am
bitious honest organizers, who themselves may be
chosen ward leaders. the eviction of INSCRIPTIONS
and unsavory methods from politics is far away
If the rascals allowed to control without fight
the recent upheayal in ST. Louis and Missouri public
affairs will go down in history MS mere passing out
burst brought about by one man and followed by a
gradual relapse into sefsatised, corrupt, morally
sinking moribund coma.
State Attorney Deneen OF chicago, young lawyer
without practice, plunged in to organize the better
element among the Republicans of his ward Now
he holds $4,000 Office, is prominently mentioned
for Governor, and bears unassailab.e reputation
Literally he is honored by full million Of Chi
eagos citizens. Health Commissioner John H. Simon
of st. Louis fought the Buffers in the Twenty-ffth
Ward. In political parlance. he put Bobby Carroll
Butler Indian and magnate in that ward, out of
business" Doctor Simon earned his appointment
Health Commissioner. Is Doctor Simon to be re-
garded contemptuously by the public for going into
politics.?
No. Instead of maintaining standoffish superior
ity, other good men should follow his example.
The time to begin electing city ticket is year or
two in advance. Then, and then only, can the proper
preparation be made. The enthusiast who would
overturn corruptonists must marshal hosts to meet
hosts He must prepare his followers to register at
the special registration for the primary election get
upon the party ticket and see that his votes are
counted.