The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-09-08
TWO REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATIONS.

Mr.. Walbrdge Mayor Of st. Louis from 1898
to 1897. fairly accurate description Of conditions
which prevailed In the City Hall during his term
was given by the Republican party organ, the Globe,
which said:
II Is open secret that franchises OF
all kinds obtained by bribery. and
there Is reason TO believe that the fellows
with itching palms do not conhne their
dishonesty to that other particular
class Of ordinances When bills
duced. they closely scanned to see II
they offer any chance for the !evying OF
tribute, and those which seem TO present
such opportunity held up until
certain amount OF money is paid
their passage. This Is a OF
idle assertion malicious surmise. but OF
common understanding: and the victims
submit to the robbery because that is the
only way In which they secure what
they
Mr. Zegenhen Mayor Of st. Louis In the
succeeding four years and his administration was
logical continuation Of the rule begun under Mr.
walbridge. Conditions which grew up under the
latter's administration were prolonged under Mr.
Ziegenhein. They are well described in a recent
article on ''St Louis, An Object Lesson in Municipal
Corruption" 1; refers first TO previous term and
says. concerning Ed Butler:
From this administration he secured his
valuable contract from the city. that
of collecting and reducing the garbage
Then 1t goes on TO say Of Ziegenheinism:
This administration during the years OF
'e'-'9S-'ss-lso reached a eliminating point
of moral rottenness and brazen effrontery.
Checks that had been paid Into the City
Collectors Office mys;eriousy disappeared:
pay rolls were stuffed by carrying
upon them. Lcentousnes. gambling
and vice contributed their quota Of rake
on" to the general fund of the gang: the
city's rights were sacrificed 70 the highest
contributor 10 the slush fund; exorbtant
contract prices allowed upon public
work: an employment bureau existed
which paid a certain per per north
On the wages OF the employees to the boss
who had secured them the job.
revenue making industry created
within the City Hall which would put to
blush the exactions Of the robber barons
Of OLD.
These two descriptions the former by the Repub-
lican party organ. givc n by means exagger-
ated picture Of eight Republican years. We may
admit that the first four years better than
the latter four years But the beginning was in the
first period. Certainly the latter four years could
not have been what they unless the former
period had nursed the growing monster.
Mr.. Ziegenhein is not running for Governor OF
Missouri and therefore not concerned
with the last half of the which made the
world-celebrated Doodle history of st. Louis: but
Mr. Wslbridge is running for Governor and the
public therefore rghtfuy and properly inspects the
period In which his record OF public service is laid
The public has right to demand of Mr.. Walbridge
showing Of strenuous battle against boodling and
boodlers as prerequisite for the governorship.
But upon close scrutiny OF his record in
stances Of antagcnism to corruption appear On the
contrary, the most conspicuous act OF Mr.. Wal
bridges career In the service Of the city his
championing. as President of the Council. OF the
Butler garbage contract, which the party organ the
Globe denounced as the giving OF "a clean rakeoff
from the municipal treasury to Butler: who. by the
way, the Globe has advised cannot do better than
to vote for Mr.. Walbridge this year.
May not the public fairly inquire: In what re-
spec: did Mr.. wa!bridge's administration show a
sharp contrast to Mr.. Ziegenhein's administration!
In what particulars Mr.. walbridge's admins
tration superior to Mr.. Ziegenheins? The Republic
will contend that the Mayor himself was a man
Of better type In Wabridge's time than In Ziegen
helms. But in work done against Doodle where is
the difference?
Another question which the people may properly
consider at this time. and very important cues
ton, Is this In the event that Mr.. Walbridge
should be elected Governor and by the votes
Ed Butler and the Doodle elements should triumph
This fall and spring in st. Louis. what kind of
municipal administration would We have: What
kind Of a municipal regime does Mr.. walbridge
guarantee to st. Louis?
Would It be any better than the four years under
Mayor Walbridge the four years under Mayor
Ziegenhein? With a Wabridge- Butler Doodle ALL
in power Mt the capital and in the city. would
not return TO those old conditions he inevitable:
And IL not, what is to prevent It?