The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-02
DISMISS POLITICS.

For an indefinite time partisan Republicans of St.
Louis have made campaign issues Of the Nesbit law,
which they designated as nefarious statute framed
for dishonest purposes They demanded a new and
better law and declared that they would be satisfied
and cease their political ndignes IL their demands
were granted. They claimed good intent for their
vituperation They desired nothing more, they said,
than what they termed justice in suffrage regulation
The Democrats were doubtful whether the Nesbt
law was worse than others which had been in the
statutes Crime had been committed under the Nes-
bit law But it had also been committed on as large
a scale under the Filley law OF 1895, which the Re
publican issue-hunters had commended. The Filey
law brought the Ziegenhen contingent into the City
Hall. while the Nesbit law brought in a reform ad
minstration The Republicans alleged that the
registration books padded under the Nesbit law,
yet as the records will disclose, the registration
larger by about 1000 in 1895 under the Filley law
than in 1900 under the Nesbt law, the voting pOpula
ton being, OF course, smaller by thousands.
Facts showing the efficacy Of both laws IN prac
tice do not suggest much advantage of either over
the other Both had virtues and both had defects.
And the penalty provisions Of neither were legally
effective; that it WIS impossible to punish Of
tenders They were laws. And laws are made be-
cause necessity for them exists They were laws;
but neither as nearly perfect is the Jefferson
Club election bill. which is now pending in the Gen
eral Assembly. ..s- zss -
The Legislature tried to ascertain the sentiments
and opinions Of leading citizens Of ST Louis in regard
to election subjects and q public hearing
Quoted in Jefferson City. Information had come to
the lawmakers that the partisan Republicans Of st.
Louis had attempted tc make political capital out of
the election statute information had also reached
them that the Republicans were really in earnest and
sincerely wished better law. The public hearing
gave the legislators chance to discover the truth
about the Republican issuehunters and likewise to
st. Louis. 't"
As was expected the Republicans who appeared at
the public hearing entered protests against the Jeer
son Club bill, although several Of these men were
fair enough to acknowledge that the measure has
sterling qualities and would make excellent law.
But the legislators were given typical demonstra-
ton Of low politics. Simultaneously the Republican
issue hunters denounced the Nesbt law, condemned
the Jefferson Club bill and screamed for te law Of
1885," under which the misgovernment cohorts cap
tured St Louis. 49, q.
What were the legislators to believe? Evidently
that the Republican partsans OF St Louis had re-
solyedeto cry about dishonest elections" matter
HefS the Legislature might do. Indications were
manifest that the Jefferson Club bill, IL enacted,
would receive the same hostile abuse the Nesbit
law. 1t seemed clear that the Republicans would
play politics with the very best law that could be
ceived The legislators party Democrats could not
be blamed much therefore, II they should conclude
that the Republicans of st. Louis would be well
content with the Nesbit law as another
The respectable Republicans of st. Louis may be
true IN their petitions for a law; vet 1t Is ap-
parent that sincerity OF motive has not been displayed
In deed. In fact, the,ersans ofthe Republican ma