The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-02
LEADS OTHER QUESTIONS.

Though public resentment against Doodle and graf
is aroused as it has been before, there will b.
no unjust criticism Of the national administration be
cause Of the frauds in the PostOtice Department
The country did the efforts at first made t.
deny and conceal the wrongdoing. Suspicion of thu
| administrations good faith inevitable when for
mer and incumbent Cabinet officers slieered at tn,
| charges and seemed to be laying plans to proven
honest investigation. But fifteen men have been in
dicted and four have been removed or suspended
This looks like business, and the people will give
credit for results.
In the present watchfu state of public opinion
there Is no patience with the perverted partisanshr
which would either conceal crime to protect party
rings ignore honest prosecutions help the other
partys ambitions. Municipal. State and Federal
beodc must be stopped: the guilty must he punished
the lesson must be taught that the way of the
gressor ia hard
Say what thinkers and orators may about the
great traditional disputes. the familiar questions
which parties have debated this Doodle evil is first in
the mind OF the American citizen There is reason
for its becoming issue between parties. 1t admits
no argument of principle It has but side. Doodle
is crime: bood,ers criminals; their abettors and
accessories are often criminals: honest officials
who expose Doodle and punish boodlers the men
whom The hour demands.
DULY when a party organization tries +, provide Il
sanctuary for grafers; only when 1t makes itself an
accessory to doodle. in city, State Federal govern
ment before after the TACT is the party to be held
responsible.
Missouri's Democratic officials have pursued the
boodlers uncompromisingly. The Governor and the
Attorney General have acted with vigor. The Mayor
of ST. Louis has reformed the municipal government
from top to bottom until. from being of the most
corrupt and slpshod 1t has become the best city
ice in America. The Circuit Attorney has not only
prosecuted but convicted every booder against whom
indefatigab!e labor could find evidence.
Men of all parties in Missouri honor the officials
who have made this distinguished record. Voters are
be turned to partisan or personal advantage. They
the results of jealous and able work for the pub
lie good and give generous appreciation.
SO the people Of the country will deal with the
national administration 1t would be better If Doodle
never became party issue; better If each party
and each possesses certain of procrastnation
mystifcation and deceIt-woud resolve to enter into
rivalry with the other in the relentless prosecution
of dishonest officials. Tho party which delays mys-
titles and deceves in behalf of criminals may succeed
for year in avertng the unpeasantness Of scandal.
but when the explosion it will be disaster Ill
which innocent public will suffer with the guilty
For both party and public the way Of safety is the
way of holiness The people will respect the national
administration if the whole duty destroying Doodle
is performed.
But there is national feeling which will quickly
create national issue If the recent squirt Of prose-
cutting ACTIVITY in Washington is to be followed by
renewal of the attempts to temporize via crnA ani
cover up the criminals wi,n political friendship.