The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-01-20
IN TIE pDLDRU Ms.


Who stops to doubt the fate of the Z o. p. in
Missouri: With The State occupying its wontcd
~ltadSiip of Democracy. chosen AZ the seat of the
convention. 10 lie the center of Drm"cracyS ac-
tivity and the base OF campaign operations. with Il
strengthened and alert voting Population. with local
ISSUES entirely in Democracy favor. with national
ISSUES such aS especially appeal to MiSSourianS. with
Missouri in the fore of both national and inrerna-
rional interest and the necessity increased for main
tanning State pride: in short. with every inrcntiv"
strongly maxim. for an Overwhelming and inSpirI-
tional victory. there can he no questioning the out
come. Democratic prowess. pride and power are in
vincibl-.
Confronting Il forcsone conclusion. n prospect of
defeat aS cerra IL and dismal AS the late Republican
record in Missouri warrants. it remains for local
Republication 10 make its uStoma buster and
bluff. Thus far the exhibition has not taken positive.
definite shape. but consists in mere railing and oppo-
Sitiom Pending the nomination it is hardly probable
that more than a negative uncertain phase will be
exhibited. The Roosevelt clubs. Though no more
than paper organizations. which We're spread over
the State by L SelfSeeking faction some moons ago,
indicated at the time that the Missouri Republican,
ism would assume a positive stand aud take Il baud
IN the concerns of the party. Later events etfaced
all such Indications. Within recent weeks especially
opposing forces have demoralized and neutraliZed
the positive trend. The politicians halt. waiting for
the eat 10 jump; when they will know for whom To
yell.
In the interim the Ieathern lungs of local leader
ship are employed solely against Democracy. And
in the interim there is, naturally. a SeInblance of
consolidation. The motives of all factions being the
same. the same dubety resting upon all of them,
the same intentions as to yelling Ultimately for the
nominee inspiring the pie-couuter patriots. there
lusrir, =. l"II S.,,,rlTf,, g, ,,t,,a
patronage is wasted energy until it shall have been
determined that there is any patronage TO scramble
for. and until 1t shall have been determined who is
10 preside thereuyer.
During this interim of suspended competition an!
fractional doldrums. while the weaker aud more un
SI>prcting Of The factionalistS are of Their guard. i
the opportunity of the stronger and more designing:
and that small group of inside cincherS in whom the
pull is concentrated have taken advantage of TIN"
lull. Quietly extending their influence. they have
secured control Of The two So-callcd Republican clubs
with the result that We have an 'amalcamation."
This tangible result marks the first step in the new
freezeOut game.
Then. Immediately upon the heels of this move,
the Globe. vocal tool Of the patronage cincherS,
makes a threat calculated to give a quietuS TO any
incipient opposition. and to protect the select clique
in its freeze-out preparations. Says the Globe: viii
- 1"' wv ''y'''' ~ pA'i''hhn vi i~S' " '"A'i
vate ill-feeling about Federal offices. or allow any Of
the comparatively few who hold them TO stir UP
contention: If he 100000 Republicans Of the State
have nothing better 10 occupy their activities than
the Federal offices they will be beaten as a matter of
course"
The 35n0Oo-Or eSS-RcpublicauS will be beaten.
as everybody comedies. That isn't The question. But
its the strongest argument against contentious on
the part of small country politicians that the Globe
can bring 10 bear on behalf of its big fish. Preach
party patriotism in the country. let the reused r.
publican constituencies tie the hands of their small
leaders. and the result is more pie for the big city
bosses and ~swiperS. Cry down strife in the country
and concentrate the patronage pull at home. Preach
peace and perperuate the push" Thrive by threats.
That is ~palpablv the gangs and the Globes plan.
That is the perfect explanation of the Globes HON
HES on Federal Offices And POOH says the
Globe. they are not worth fighting over anyhow"
We are Informed that Washington jobs are not
worth a young mans notice and that Missouri jobs
are small and are mostly governed by civil-scrvice
rules. Squahbling over them interfcrcs with broad
purposes" Whose broad purposes: