Mexico Missouri Message

That "Home Rule" Idea.

The following is from the Journal of Agriculture of St. Louis. It gives a peculiar situation, but we believe the story is truthfully told:

As an issue in Missouri politics, the cry of "home rule for St. Louis," which means especially the regulation of the police department by the city government, is meeting with little popular response. It is known that a former mayor, whose administration marked the disgraceful period in St. Louis history, was especially interested in home rule legislation and was injudicious enough to say that if he had the control of the police system he could perpetuate his mayoralty for life. He meant what he said, and knew what he was talking about. He was familiar with the conditions. It was in his term of office that the climax was reached. Knowing these facts we undertake to say that not ten per cent of the substantial business and professional element of St. Louis who pay taxes, and who have the interest of good government at heart, are in favor of the police control being transferred to the city. Let not rural Missouri be deluded by any suggestion that there is any clamor in St. Louis for what is called home rule, as applied to the police system, among the element in favor of good government-among the people who pay taxes, who have no political or official ends to serve except that of good, clean, practical government. The State government is more responsive to popular sentiment than city management-the governor is nearer the whole people and more responsive to them. The police is a state, not a city, power. The governor can best keep the force out of politics. Let the law stand as it is.