The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-04-23

Missouris record for the two years past ha.
placed 1t singly and alone on the platform of re
form. No other State has more than feebly at
tempted 70 rid itself of the bcodiins and bribins
business. The contrast which Missouri presents tc
the rest OF the United States is forcibly illustrated
by a view Of the late experience of its neighbol
State on the West. Kansas reform in the sense
that it means probing and prosecution, appears tc
have been Il fizzle.
Kansas has lately undergone a political revoll
ton. terminating in the rings overthrow, the results
of which ultimately will tend to minimize legisla-
tive and executive corruption; bur apparently has
contented itself with expectations of the benefits 20
accrue from the Hoch administration. and suffered
boards. \ great opportunity was afforded in the
Wyandotte investigation, which Governor Bailey
was at length induced 10 order; and the people Of
the State hreathed freer when q number of lndict-
ments were secured. 1t was thought that Doodle
would get Il hard blow. There was plenty of JUST
fcation for hope. The Wyandotte situation prom
ised much.
The denouement, or what looks to be the de-
nouemenr, is sad enough, Mr.. Colman, the Kansas
Attorney General. instead of going to Wyandotte
himself and performing the duties of prosecutor.
turned the business over to assistants. after havin.
drawn defective indictments. In the first case com-
ing up for trial, that of Chris kopp. Mr.. kOpp'S
counsel filed a motion to quash the Indictment on
the ground that it did not allese the otfense TO have
been committed within the statutory period. The
court has held, and properly, that the indictment IS
void. All the Wyandotte cases rest upon like in
dictments and. probably. will be Quashed. Another
interesting fact with reference to Wyandotte re-
form was disclosed in the recent contest over Hoch's
uomination-that Wyandotte was the strongest ma
chine county in the State. The whole thing has a
bad look. and the only redeeming feature of the
situation is the fact that the ring is doomed speedily
to give way TO Hoch. With a Governor to push IN
designations and an Attorney General to fulfill not
only the letter but the spirit OF his duty. there
would have been a different story TO tell of Wyan-
dOtte. With Hoch in the executive chair there will
probably be no more like stories to tell Of Wyan-
dotte.
Missouris record for two years contains no In
stances such as this. This State has pursued a
straight line. No official has wavered. Nc political
conditions have anywhere been allowed to interfere
with official duty. Missouri officials. headed by MI.
Folk, have zealoUsly followed the course prescribed
by public opinion and obviously demanded for the
States welfare. The result is most gratifying just
now. both by comparison with the plight Of Kansas
and in view Of our own political trend. Missouri
has done and is doing what it set out to do.
Missouri reforms tend higher. Missouri may put
itself In p~osition-doubtless will do SOTO carry the
Doodle issue to the nation. 1t has fixed its place
In the fore Of the movement. which sooner or later
must develop irresistible power. to purify national.
State and municipal administration and exalt the
standard of integrity in political affairs