The St. Louis Republic., 1904-09-17
MAN-AFRAID-OF-HIS-REC

Mr. Walbridce has nothing positive 10 say on any
issue He has been talking for several days with.
out saying anything: ani say n"iliin. i cliar-
acteristic of the man who served in the House "f
Delegates in the Council and Mayor without
saying anything Saying nothing and saying il
>oftly-that is the plan of campaign typical ~ the
ab>ent-mcthod rcformer who is afraid O his recrr';
public servant in the day, when Boodc Han
was the nickname of the place wherein municipal
transactions took place and garbage bills were
boosted Mr. Wabridge's utteranccs beginning at
Kaloka Monday. have been 4 series Of bland neu-
traites and uncertainties: Gelarinous tran>plrcl-
cies
He gently intimat"s that he ought to be- elected
Governor because this is a great Stale aud We ar.
delightful people the latter part Of which prepoSi-
ton everybody admits and-that ts ali there Is 10
the Walbrdge campaign. He doesn't hint OF even
the most delicate purpose TO wage an offensive and
defensive boodlnc. and says not word of
the necessity for aggressive honesty in government
He is apparently perfectly willing indulge the sh
soluie presumption that there bcpers any
where in the world just he seemed willing to do
in the old days the old and rotten days. He
breathes syllable against any corrupt schemers
which might exist-and which in fact. everybody
knows do exist under the very skirts of his can
ddacy. He has nothing against anybody and he
hopes that nobody has anything against him.
Once he did go so far 70 assure the audience.
sotto voce that ther,. had been unholy alliance
1t IS not difficult 10 imagine that h. could and would
have made similar statement. independent OF the
facts. in the old days. the rotten old days. when.
according to his party organ. corruption was an
open secret and he incidentally the champion
OF the Butler garbage bill
But he does not even whisper Of the open
secret either Of the past Of the present. Man
afrad-of- -biS-record Is apparently also Manafraid
of managers. and Observation-Disclosures allies
Mr.. Walbridge isn't even lying lcw-as some can
didates and Ananias organs DO: he is steering clear
away all references 10 Buffers and TO boodlers
and garbage bills and such things. Past and pres
ent conditions Of corruption the former municipal
ard the latter political. simply do not interest him
which is very strange fact too since doodle l. the
issue and the greatest issue raised by IN
American Commonwealth. The man who d!dn I
give any sign that he knew Of boodl!ng in the days
when booding throve under his official nose doe>nt
to-day attach any significance 10 the great Missouri
doodle issue which is absorbing national and even
international attention rs the important ques
tion in government to-day
But Mr. Walbridge says he would like to he
Governor He doesn't think the boodle issue and
his record of absent-method reform worth mention
ing but he would like 10 be Governor.
He doesn't say anything about any Of tn" other
State issues doodle aside-but he would Ike TO be
Governor. Yes. he seems 10 save his emphasis for
that propositions he would like be Governor He
really would.
Mr. waIbrid-e formerly member Of the House
Of Delegates President of the Council. Champion of
Buffers Garbage Bill and Mayor Of ST. Louis in the
old DAYS of the Open Secret would Ike 10 be Gov
ernor: and there some Others. including lobby
iss crooked officials hoodlers and Buffers. corrupt
corporate interests, who second the motion.
After all politics IS the very best field of comedy