The St. Louis Republic., 1903-10-14
REFoR,rs GREATER FUNCTION.

In literal and in the largest sense reformation
Is constructive process. synonymous with civil
cation" 1t Is active, progressive. ever building
upon conditions of to-day abreast Of new facts
of life: never retrogreSivc. tarryng over the
errors of yesterday, but occupied with present
and future needs.
Progress applies the cure as it goes; not that it
eradicates uprootS all evil. but that it rather
strives constantly improve conditions with view
TO reducing the possibility Of evil, having in mind
past experience.
Thus progress or reformation, in Missouri takes
the form at present of building mp the public
ice. The process OF improvement is dual, consist
ing in exercise of the peoples punitive power
and in exercise Of The lawmaking right and the
right Of selection of public servants. In other words
it is an Improvement both in the personnel and N
the conditions Of public service wherever such i'm
provement appears desirable.
Punitive power is exercised only for the pur
pose of Safeguarding the future. Exercise of the
punitive power is of the 'bulwarks against an
tirepublcan tendencies Of which jefferson speaks.
1t is a condition of security thrown around The peo
pies interests 1t is only of value society in that
it warns against the violation OF rights and in
tereStS.
Missouri has exercised the punitive function
certainly TO the extent Of illustrating the dangers
Of tampering with the public interest. For the
municipal boOdlers convicted the way points almost
surely to the Penitentiary. Their chance Of escape
techncalities is the barest Already they have
suffered perhaps the severest forms Of socctys pun
ishment. the humiliation and disgrace OF conviction
by twelve peers The punishment Of confinement
and manual labor is cumulative in a sense. Already
society has branded these men, who are indispu-
tably guilty i'll fact Of the crimes charged The uI
timate Imprisonment Eut gives practical effect TO
~ dePra - h.tNy Ia. Sfifyr n eTlT
thus placed upon them and the mere physical pun
ishment Of penal service, could the two be sepa
rated almost any man would choose the latter
However, in the of the Missouri bOodlers
there is Yet small reason TO doubt that the peo-
pies sentence will be given full effect.
This. the minor function of reform will not have
been fulfilled until the full force Of the laws ma
chinery has been brought to bear against all the
Offenders-for the purpose Of Signalling and defn-
ing the inviOlabllity Of the public interest and
ing the powers that prey.
But al best and given its fullest operation. this
is the minor function of reform Society's expert
ence has demonstrated that no punitive system. |
however comprehensive and severe. is of itself suf
fcient TO the hest interests Of society And
it is obvious that NSSouri's present vigorous pros
ecutiOn of criminals would be all 10 no purpose /
should reform content itself there. by far the |
greater function is that within the province pol
tics; which supplements the work of the courts at
the polls. This function is remedial: it includes the
making of laws demonstrated 10 he needed and /
the repeal of those found TO bc detrimental. And
it includes the selection Of proper minstrantS OF
laws.
The system Of law and the administration % /
law are always within the peoples control at the |
polls; and 10 construct the system and so rcGu-
late the administration best TO safeguard the 4
peoples interest and diminish the opportunities
of lobbyism and graft should be the great object /
now. Upon this the Missouri public must cOncen-
trate its attention. The campaign must he watched /
through each succeeding stage leading mp 10 clc,-
ton. The principle of discrimination i'm favor ~ |
the public interest and dSintercStcd public service.
must be rieidly applied. Complete. reformation o, |
Missouri in the trucst and largest sense is easily
within the power OF the voter.