The St. Louis Republic., 1904-09-16
TIL. UNDERLYING REASON.

THE UNDERLYING REASON
The qualification which Republican newspapers
express concerning the obstruction garbage log
islation strengthens suspicion thar the tactics Of
the majority in the House conform WITH political
designs. There evidences Of 4 connection be-
tween the opposition in the House and III. candi-
dacy OF Mr. walhridce for Governor: ther, are in
dcations that the disregard of public interests may
he meant for a justification Of this candidates
ord Mayor of ST. Louis, and particularly Of his
garbage record.
Rurler's representatives and friends are rs sym
pathetic toward Walbrdge as they are in:n,irl! 70
Mr. Folk. Their enmity TO Mr.. Folk is based
upon Mr. Folks work fearless prose
cutor. Mr. Folks inquisitons and prtsecu-
tons have hurt Butler and Rutlcr's followers.
i:utlers representatives and friends are VII dis
posed toward walbridce. Walb-ii-- is running
against Mr. Folk. While Walbridge IVES il the
Council the existing garbage conirarr was &C.
and the contract helped company in which Butler
was interested Waibridee shares tn. rcSpoE>:-
biliry for the present garbage-reduc:oa system AID
this responsibility Is weight upon him in Lis
hopeless for the Governorshp.
The Republic would not bring the garbage ques-
ton forward incident Of State politics II Inc
sequence were not plain. The action. nonaction.
of the House Of Delegates which is defensive FOR
publican newspapers in their efforts justify Wal
bridge. force this question into prominence 20
ltical trick. The suspicion prevailed from the be
ginning that Buffers followers In the House Ge
sired TO aid WaIbrdge hut the suspicion not
uttered definitely until the Republican papers prsc
tically corroborated il.
This editorial in the Star Of September II is sug-
gestive:
This garbage bill is bsirs handled rrler
administration chosen with Tis Re.
pubiic's advice ard much led by hat
paper. Unier thes~ favorable Jt.cuIr-
stances garbage legislation trOyiis
which The Republic finds it hard TO over
With these conditions before -.
It would be wise for The Republic 10 re-
feet how unfair II Is TO charge similar
carriage disturbances Mr.. Walbridgs
when ne was Mayor years ago. After all
the triumph and the exploitation OF good
government which have had. the
old gang seems to control the old
garbage question and make the
old trouble under what The Republic
tells is the best o: city government
That is the point exactly. The Butler element; |
in he House obviously is trying 10 relieve Wal
bridge OF his responsibility by making 1t appear that
be helpless it would. II possible. substitute no
record for bad record. But the star forgets that
this administration. excluding Buffers and Wal |
BRIDGES friends In the House is united in all de-
partmeuts for reform in the gnriage system.
There halt IN the reform until Wal |
bridge became the Republican nominee for Govern |
or. Prior to Walbridge's nomination the admins
ration had terminated the garbsge-collection con-
racr and established municipal garbagecollection
system The administration served notice But |
er's and Walbridge's friends in the House early
as three years ago that change was Necessary. !
And now, when Walbrldge is candidate for Gov !
.rnor the Butler element in the House either
accidentally OF Incidentally. his
escne. The connection between the obstructive tao
csc in the House. the qualification OF Republican
newspapers and Walbridse's candidacy IS sugges
i've, II not suspicious,
The Republic prefers not to bring municipal af
airs into politics politics into municipal affairs
But the Indications such IN this that pre-
railing suspicions. based upon correlatiye circum-
stances. ought 10 be accen,uated for the informa-
ion Of the public Walbridge's interests happen to
oincde with other than public interests and public
interests suffer detriment TO the advantage Of Wal
,rdSes and the other interests. 1t is also significant
hat Walbridge's friends and supporters are eager
lbout explaining the Houses tactics TO help their
.andidate. The Butler friendship for Walbridge
With the Butter friendship for Butler. may be- rs
indicate tl.ar they are the und.ry-
ng for the tactics OF Buffers followers IN
he House.