The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-29
METHODS AND MEN

The Milwaukee Sentinel considers the subject Of
good government and announces the Identical con-
clusons which several thousand other publications
and about half hundred million people in the
United States have reached. Its suggestions are:
Induce worthy men to become candidates for public
office, nominate them and elect them.
Ninety-nine per cent-more or less-of the voters
In every municipality will straightway agree with
the Sentinel and will proclaim themselves as being
Jealous for everlasting good government Nearly the
whole of the ninety and nine will profess knowledge
of and respect for the duties Of citizenship and will
resolve to vote conscentiously at every primary and
election stss..S.-li5.-
1t is as easy to induce worthy men to become
candidates for public Office It is to nominate them
as easy to nominate as to elect them, and AS easy
to elect them as to get respectable citizens vote
primaries and elections Worthy men would not de-
cline the prospective honors of the public service
they were certain that their natural allies would
render really effective support during and after
elections, and so many respectable citizens would
not remain away from the polls If more worthy men
would stand as candidates for Office.
majority Of citizens desire progressive good
government. They ask constantly for the opportun-
ity to vote for worthy candidates Worthy citizens
frequently aspire to the honors Of Office and would
gladly seek nomination and election under honorable
and not uncongenia conditions. But worthy citizens
are nonreceptive from fear that their fellows would
be lethargc on election day, and large percentage
of the majority decide not vote because the cand
dates are unfit.
As the Sentinel states, the price Of good govern
ment is good citizenship. But how can there be mis-
government when the great majority Of the voters
processes and lauds good citizenship? The will of the
majority is supreme. Penalties of misgovernment
should not be evident when it Is the popular wish
that public business should be ably managed by
capable and reliable men.
The will Of the majority seems to be stronger
than its works. The will is capable of high resolve
but does not beget capacity for sacrifice Thousands
of voters think nobly but fail to do. Hundreds who
do and might do noby elevate the pennant of party
above the standard of the city. Thus the respecta-
bic element Of citizenship, with all Its good nten-
tions again and again sees the banner of the united
opposition raised the seat of local government
Everybody knows the remedy. Vote. and vote for
competent men But everybody will not act as his
knowledge and better instincts prompt him. he will
probably not act at ALL and this is often as bad as
If he had acted against the dictates of civic con-
science. The patriotic element Of respectable cIti-
zenshp needs leadership, that loyal and active lead
ership which win sway party organizations for the
general good, or, when necessary for the common
cause obliterate party divisions by practical appeal
to civic pride. The conduct of municipal elections
on municipal issues and principles, independent of
strict party and political issues is demonstrating ef
fciency in producing good municipal government
wherever circumstances encourage fair trial