The St. Louis Republic., 1904-04-11
DIVISION OF DUTY.

The great responsibility resting upon the Whole
people of Missouri 10 build up exemplary poltica!
conditions, mainIain the States position in
| the van of the reform movement which sooner OF
later must sweep the land. is divisional RESPONSE
biliiy. II is. 50 10 speak. allotted he counties.
The counties are necessarily the of the wh,Ge-
some henciiccni condition which is described by Ill,
general 'relorm. From the counties. as
such come the peoples representatives The coun-
ties select the executive servants. County politics
i'll the aggregate is State politics.
Each county in Missouri. in order effect the
desired condition. must give close study 10 lis own
particular allotment of the responsibility. There
are Iii different political situations in the ia com
ties.
In some counties citizenship must rake the posi-
tion OF attack: in others. The position of defense
With respect 10 legislators. il i> the dusy i'll
county Ia stand by its former representative: in
another drive him of the public service The
COURTEOUS ring requires und"ing in ptHcr; N
another I'll" political leaders who further
the publ" interest and the will of the people. They
deserve support
There are and hav. been in both parties some
harnacie politicians detrimental local welfare:
manpulatorS who, because of their long aud undis
putcd control, hold themselves above the people.
Wrapped in their traditional alls,lpremacy and suf
tcency. they have believed that politics began ani
ended with Themselves. But in reality these men
are pigmirS when once the people conclude have
done with them
Missouri citizenship is proving tine capacity for
taking politics into lis own hands. Nothing thu.
selfish variety of politicians do can hinder the
people when the people decide act for themselves
When they become reused sufficiently to take an ef
fective ncreSt-when they are sufficiently in ear
nest 10 be willing devote little of their time
the accomplishment of political obiect-they are
absolutely invincibie. The politician di correct
tivcS actS with the people time when the public
conscience demands Improvement in the public serv
ice The harnacle politician contends for little
ness. for selfish ends. time when these things
will not he brooked He makes the mistake of un-
deres'imating the power Of public opinion. II. sets
himself up against the people and they ride over
nm The selfish politician or the corrupt politician
is the only obstacle which The people meet in re-
forms Get INN out of the way or prevent his IL
trusion and the business of publication is simple
The character of legislators is an important CON
sidera'inn in half of the counties now The peope
must demand that candidates proceed on the lines
of Il clear distinction Men identified with lobby in
fuences must he kept down. If Missouri constructs
its General Assembly intelliyentIy there will he few
Dad representatives therein at the next session. !
Let constituents watch their representatives \ |
says of the value nf close attention 10y the con-
sitHent>: The character of "A legislator if bad |
soon becomes = matter Of common potorirty and
no dishonest legislator long keep his reputation
good with honest men. II The constituents wish to
Know tn" character of their member. they easily
find it out. and no member will br dishonest if hr
thinks his constituents are looking at him. he pre-
sumes upon their ignorance indifference | do
not see how bribcakins among legislators can he
stopped until The public conscience which is even
now gradually awakening. becomes fully awake 10
the matter. Then il will stop fast enough: for Just
us soon politicians realize that ,le people are in
earnest in wanting thing DONE they make haste
TO do il"