The St. Louis Republic., 1905-02-08
WELLS AND MUNICIPAL ENTERPRISE.

structure TO present as gift 20 the r9hroads
WELLS AND MUNICIPAL ENTERPRISE.
What do the people of ST Louis want in the way
Of Mayor and Il municipal administration: That Is
th. practical proposition confronting them HOW.
II is of much importance I" the aver:ge man
as any question arising in his business affairs. Mu-
nical government is the government tlla; touches
home Ii il ..ose about the resident. II has to do
with a great variety Of matters which are part AMI
parcel will, his daily living. l. affects his peace. his
protection. his health. his comfort. his convenience
II has broader application I" the con'iit!ons al
living than realize. II Is the direct tni;
ton Of thousand and matters of personal con
10 the individual.
Municipal government Is as clos. 20 the resident
his landlord his grocer. "r his butcher: rs the
concern which supplies him light. "r coal "r lee. or
milk. Directly il supplies HIS wafer. Municipal GOV
superintcls his streets. 'aacs care of his
sewage hauls his sarba:c. regulates his modes nf
transportation. II super,isc> his house affairs.
household affairs generally 1t controls the public
utilities which serve him.
What more could the p+rr.. Of 81 Louis asi. in
the way Of municipal government than they have
had In the past four years: The Wells aimini>tra-
ton has made the most OF It's opportunities. cX-
haus,cd its possibilities.
Municipal government Is 4 complex system with
almost infinite variety Of functions. II is hus
ness of many departments. No private business
is difficult of management. Yet every private
business is better equipped for duty than the best
c,iIippcd municipal government. City admin>ira-
ti"n I've equipped only through the consent Of 4
large an. slow-cpuscntn:: b"iri OF directors the
Ic"lr who only IT infrc,lucnt Intervals. Ci,y
needs outrun the ctyS means improvements come
after the needs well defined AMI pr,>Sin.
before The people dcinan.i that Reeds u. tcmIol-
srra,c,! first. and usually through painful expert
cncc. The peoples r-'u.tan.c IN eiupPin. govern
Irrnt with proper and full facilities is due hack "f
faith in public servants in GENERAL. consequent Upon
many ualfcaSaucss AMI failures "f pcrf"rmar'c in
Office. Dn the other hand the needs Of every iuclli
gently conducted private business anticipated!
far possible.
III. wii" under Ordinary crCum-
stances enter upon the rlanag-mcn, Of ciiys b,Si-
ness undertake cncrmcus responsibility under
heavy haDdicap. The handicap WAS greater than
usual in the of Mayor Wrlis AMI his c"w"rhcrs
four years ac". They ra'il" in i'll the fac. Of
public skcptcisn. which had been Developed hy the
rrcy four years al misrule-ri.c rntcncst ever
suffered Icy 4 municipality. Ais" the .iry's equip,
lad been down us institutions in bad
shape. its treasury empty. In word. ST. Louis
WAS down ii the heels and 5r,se.
Notwithstanding lis aggravated difficulties. The
Wells administration has achieved Il marvel "f Per
i"Talnc". Government was only set irs feet
IL made accomplish. -. Iouiss affairs have
been handled cnnStrrictivciy AMI progressively y.r
with al possible s"on"my. The management CON-
hncd honesty md intelligence" la the highest degree.
y" private business conducted with greater
Integrity. "" private business OF substantial na-
turr HIS made larger strides In given length "f
time. The Wells administration has fulfilled lis
Office. {" the public in 4 never be- forgotten way.
The Wells administration carried off the Worlds
Fair situation hrav.iy and with the credit {"
81. Louis. That achievement must hav" emphasis.
What would the Zic:-nliein administration have
done with Worlds Fair situation: How would
many another past administration have cnrci with
tn" burdens "f that period: pnc "t the -r.aurs
md most impressive exhibits which this city had
t" make Z" III. world during III. Exposition
that Of its atministr,ti"n Til" 'Worl.ls FaiE
Mayor worthy "f the name and 1" his AL
musiririun ~. Louis lis pres, NJ universal
standing as a model Of municipal government
Wells represents integrity. intelligence. cc"n"Imy
and thrift in the public business of this city AMI
represents these things in larger dcgr". than any
other on, man. What the broad capacity g.! his
has done in the four years past il
AMI VIII IL. i'll the four years :t!! the
lolr should have both III" good ant! the geese.
io demand Ike repetition.