The St. Louis Republic., 1904-10-02
THE LOCAL TICKETS.


For the preservation of good government. after
period OF reform. the contest Is even more severe
than is the contest by which progress Is first at
tained. The radical change from wrong to right
hurts offenders and Injuries special interests. SpOs
men and the benefciaries Of the spoils system put
forth their extreme effort to regain their lost power
Their struggle always imperils the Ierpetuation OF
the higher standards. And, reform concentrates
and unIfes the better clements 1t also sodifes and
harTnonizes the grafters
The plans which debasing politicians are making
TO put untr1lstworty and incompetent men into Of
flee. successors Of the officials who have re-
deemed the city. must impress upon the citizens of
st. Louis the more imperative necessity of remain
ing steadfast 10 the cal:se of reform. Improved
conditions will rot last unless the citizens realize
this great duty; unless they feel their faithful
servants do. that the principles must be upheld
with vigor, and at personal sacrifice, II sacri
fee Is demanded.
II the agents and friends Of corrupt politicians
should get into Office. retrogression would follow
form: again rotten state Of affairs would PREVAIL
again there would be bribery and crime, and again
St Louis would be dlsgraced. And St Louis will
be dIsgraced If the respectable element of citizen
ship does not insist upon having reputable. capable
men nominated and such men elected The per
good government, lies with the citizens.
1t is already obvious that the corrupt politicians
and the spoilsmen and the common foes are de-
termined to make a bitter fight against advance
ment. The determination is obvious from some of
the names which brought forward for nomina-
ton. These names brought out so boldly as to
indicate that the victims Of reform are desperate.
and will make desperate fight
There be no doubt that the people of st.
Louis having enjoyed reform and having suffered
from corruption in public Office, prefer reform.
There can be no donbt that the people Of st Louis,
now having loyal men in Office and having before
had pillagers in Office prefer TO be served by loyal
men, No good citizen would wish a return to the
old dsgraceful. Injurious regime would feel con-
tent with graft in control Of the powerful machinery
OF the government.
The cause Of retrogresson in good government
is that citizens do not always give unqualified. ac
tive support to reliable nominees. One citizen does
not care: bad government will not affect him. he
thinks. Another has personal grievances and will
not vote Another has been injured by reform,
probably because he was directly or indirectly in
league with spoilsmen, and he does not believe in
this kind Of good government Another Is too busy
with private matters 70 be interested in public af-
fairs. Another is owned by the sposmen. An
otueT pfelefs W nsl'e Cohpfoihse uckels. AlotAef
Is disgusted with contention And another has no
political convictions But the spoilsmen's friends
have much at stake-in money and infuence-and
they are busy to win.
Citizens must make this autumn's and next
springs nominations immediate matters Of con-
science. They must convince themselves that it is
every PERSONS duty to work hard to have good men
nominated. Whether the reform will continue to
exist az a form Of permanent good government is a
problem which the voters will decide Good gov
eminent can be perpetuated only by nominating and
electing men whose records are guarantees Of hon
est service officials. The fight which the gangs
are making to get their henchmen into Office is a
warning to loyal citizens signifies that reform is
opposed by the minions who were struck by re-
FORM There is an imperative necessity to nominate
good men.