The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-13
PUBLICITY MD PTRIFICATIuN.


At i banquet several Years ago MI Choaie entered
upon dissection Of municipal corruption. ANA ii lis
iuc>iHe way observed that the Of The evil is the
respectable citizen. NJ social Standing. probably
prominent church member. perhaps distinguished for
public spirit. who. member OF Il great corpora
ton dealing With municipal utilities such ~ street
railway. gaS electric companies 'c"rrG2i> Oh" leg
i>lator and Nj. Choate conteuded that WE SHOULD
never he i'd III booGling until we brought home 10
gentlemen ii this OF their guilt morally
"na under the law. lie went far rs t" ur.r that
examples h1 made oG them, that they h" punished
socially expelled from ciubs and al church
boards ANA yr>trie>
Referring these gentlemen, Doctor Peters
rector of 81. Altehaes church III New work. de-
care> ;ha Tie lies in digging NJ and rSp7Sis
these the purifying sunshine and air of ilr
sigh: ana discussion of The public
Undoubtedly publicity is The purifying ii=h'. iha-
is the light which has been and will h" nrtac" turned
on i'll Missouri. Neither wealth rank. social III
official. las bnen sufficient secure immunity for
brihcr> bribeake: neither personal nor political
influences have awaited shield Them In tn" eye %
the public in the eye vi The law. there IRE no dis
iinctons which mark offender from another, The
millionaire. the banker the corporate official the
State official the great lobbyist. the ''mddlenan
the ward boodler-rhey have been ca-Scd together in
law they are ciasSed equally. however they may he
differentiated in respects other than relate their
common transactions
Az between the booding legislators plea. You
tempted me aud the col1upterS reioinder. y on HELD
ne up. the public is capable of judging. Probably
there have been Of otherwise excellent character
whose morals commonly speaking of the
best; of business integrity, who rs between
man and man know no wrongdong-vho have lacked
The say no under the powerful pressure III
sandbacging tactics where interests al stake.
For their good qualities, their business and personal
integrity their high standing they may have credit.
But il is NOT the good qualities OF men which are On
trial: it is for these HAT the ordeal "yeltalie>
them: il is these which suffer by publicity How
public opinion regrets that men of good char
deter should have been involved in breach Of law.
public opinion cannot. and OF right should not. dis
tingus between the seller and the buyer uf the PEG
pies betrayal.
Tie white light of publicity is only designed 10
reveal the criminal phase; il flashes upon til" good
man in the act of exchanging bag Of gold for the
bad mans special legislation. II matters lot
whether he delivers gruigingly or willingly. lii"
prime fact which stands i'll the great white light
is that he receives something for himself he takes
that willingly enough. and is the peoples property.
hartered in violation of law which he knew full we'll:
and. besides the price in gold il costs the perjury
and treason of Il public servant.
The punishment which public opinion iniiict> upon
those who have been detected by the great white
light fits the crime and is calculated To Doodle
is issue in the public mind and the bOOdier. what
ever else he may be must suffer the consequences
which come from wrong'ioing. infection OF The pun
lies diSpleasre is necessary TO real reform. and the
briie giver is principal and Indispensable figure in
the corrupt transaction Furthermore. TWO lie
is the mere SrlSpectibe of reformation.