The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-10
NOT TOO LATE.

Do the people of the twenty-eight wards of St
Louis desire good government IN the House OF
Delegates? II they do, they can get it, But not
by procrastination. Unless they wake up and work,
the old gang of loot and mlsrule in new mask and
guise will hold undisputed possession of the lower
branch Of the Municipal Assembly
Who will be to blame then? Nobody? Yes, the
whole voting population will be responsible including
the nnety-nine per cent of respectable persons who
have innumerable good intentions and an incapacity
for civic deeds Noble thoughts and pretty dreams
will not suit an emergency like the present No one
can excuse himself by declaring 1T is too late
Warnings We're plentiful quarter of year ago.
This is a time for earnest action and every day is
precious.
The reply that the gang will win Notwithstanding
offers adequate reason for practicinG cowardice
and deserving the field TO the corruptionists. The
hooters cannot win if the people rise masse. NOM
mate good men Independent ticket and vote
solidiy for the approved candidates The people are
supreme. The question is Do the twentyeight wards
desire TO be properly represented in the House. or
do they desire TO be msrepresented? They have their
choice. BY inaction they can obtain msrepresenta-
ton; by decisive action they can nominate capable
honest men and get real representation
1t cannot be possible that the citizens of st. Louis
do not realize that next months election presents
moral and governmental crisis. The work of Mayor
Wells Circuit Attorney Folk and their assistants VIII
be crippled If the great public which expects good
government and honesty in public office, remains pas
sve and let's the coruptionsts send to the House sub
ordinary beings. who cannot he trusted and whose
very souls leased to the Legislative wizards.
You are one of the citizens responsible for the
dition of public affairs, and to such you will be
charged the result in your ward next month. Think
of the situation crisis; stufy its significance You
will see that the occasion demands energetic action
Tor principle and for PUBLIC business.
The combine in the present House persistently op-
posed the dgoveEphent administration and fought
measures of pybsc benefit. The former combine sold
the streets and special privileges private corpora
tons and probably would have sold the ctys police
regulations if it could 1t wished to sell all public
property of large value. Some Of the members of
the present and old combine nominees for re-
election. Think of that. VIII you remain inert?
If the purchasable agents of misrue and the in
experienced know-nothings allowed to continue in
control in the House of Delegates St Louis will have
to put on sackcoth and ashes before critics who
say that we are shameless. And Mayor Wells and
Circuit Attorney Folk may we'll go to fortunetell-
ers TO ascertain when the gangs power will
There is only negative gain in having good men in
the administrative offices and in the City Council
IL the bad men of the town to run the House as
they would merry round and get fees for every
turn made by the machine There is no use in ex-
posing legislative crime and convicting legislative
criminals if the sort of who do irregular acts are
to be elected to the House again and again.
The matter is up to the people of each of the
twenty eight wards They elect good men if they
will. Do they will? 1t is not too late to act.
There is time. But the respectable people must act
at once. Delay is surrender.