The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-02-07
ART OF FOUR-FLESHING

FOR u name 10 describe an evil which has seize,
upon American cities. Mayor Carter Harrison .
chicago adopts a term from the interesting game O
poker. He calls the evil -Four Flushing" and i,
the current number Of the Saturday Evening Pos
explains it at length and with much philosophy
common sense and vigOr. 1t is peculiarly appropri
ate. 1t may be said, that the arraignment appears IL
a Philadelphia publication. for Ida Tarbell and Other
writers are presenting some cuntrastfully edifyins
stories Of Pennsylvania and the City of Brotheriy
Love.
Everybody, anybody and every somebody in st
Louis, Chicago. New York, Indianapolis. Minneap.
oils. Detroit and down ON the farm would benefit
from a perusal, of Mayor Harrison's article. 1t has
the sting aud fervor and ~frankness of truth and the
fire Of an official who. considering himself injured.
charges his defense with a positive current.
Mr.. Harrison deems four worse than
graft. Where graft produces disrespect for legis-
lators." lie says. -four flushing causes disrespect for
egisiation." The official fOur-duslIer is The orig
inator and the supporter of ornamental laws. is The
fearful legislator who backslides and amends or ex-
purgates a good law, and is the weak public servan,
who fails to enforce q law in itself effectual. The
public servant is not the only four-tiusher. The
citizen is one of the rrfbe. and so is the
citizen above the average.
That inference which is most important and sug-
gestive from a public standpoint is the responsibility
OF the public fof~f four a aIhe evif ~ q fesmS
VI public opjna0n: vet got SO much OF public opinion.
after all, as OF the attitude of the people against
restraint They rebel against any measure or act
wtfrh seems to- be an infringement upon personslf
liberty. Law is one thing: compliance another.
There is no doubt that between ornamental laws
md practical common sense the public servant is ut
great disadvantage. and he may frequently be ex-
used for four-dushing. Many laws are enacted 10
atisfy public sentiment. The people believe they
hould be enforced. but object when they are en-
orced. The people acquiesce, insist. rather. upon
reinforcement of ornamental laws. And when. as
happens. infractiOn brings grave conse-
uences, the people hold the public officers to ac-
CUNT.
Mayor Harrison may not have intended to imply
hat the burden Of blame for four flushing lies with
ne citizens; but there is as much truth as fiction
such an inference. FOur-1ushing in municipal
is a reflex Of the popular disease.
And yet it is impossible to agree with Mayor
harrison that four flushing Is always wrong. 1t is.
a measure, a phase of development. The orna
pental laws typify re ideals of q community. They
enote tendencies for betterment in many directions. {
hey produce conditions favorable to the ultimate
,complishment of reform within reason. $
Four-fushing may be an evil and it may be q t
rtue. 1t may be an evil virtue or a virtuous evil. p.
may stand for courage or it may stand for i
'wardice. But its existence acceuiuates the duties il
citizenship and ought to stimulate the people liv- t
< in the large cities to greater interest in public ="
isiness. TO educate them to a sense of fairness, and q
inculcate higher ideals on practical bases. b