OF JOURNALISM ICONS AND A GOVERNOR'S TOUGH SHELL

Long-time editor of the Southeast Missourian, John Blue, passed away Thursday. I didn't know him well. But I knew him well enough to know he was a man of strong character, progressive beliefs and gentlemanly grace. For 40 years he served Cape Girardeau as a reporter and editor at the Southeast Missourian. He believed passionately in the responsibility of the press in American democracy, and he was a journalism icon in this state.

Outside of the newspaper, John Blue served the community in many civic leadership roles from president of this district's Rotary International to president and 44-year member of the Southeast Missouri Hospital board. A 1938 graduate of the college here, he led at various times Southeast Missouri State University's alumni association and the organizing committees for the school's major anniversary celebrations. The list of his civic leadership positions is a long one.

I remember stopping at his home near Arena Park when I first began writing columns. He shared pictures with me and tales about the Southeast Missourian's proud history. He was gracious and kind, even though I knew for many years he was a general in a newspaper war with my father, which must have been tough at times.

His wife, Mary Blue, poured iced tea, and it wasn't until later that I realized she was the Lady Bug columnist who delighted my mother and others in the area with her writings about gardening. They were a splendid match to be found at any and all community gatherings.

Cape Girardeau owes much to John Blue's love of this area and his vision as a newspaperman. He was 86 when he passed away.

The newspaper sends its best wishes and prayers to Mary Blue and the rest of her family.

Holden's $620 million plan

Missouri Governor Bob Holden was in Cape Girardeau on Friday touting his transportation plan. Although it will be a tough sell, he deserves credit for stepping forward and tackling a priority issue for the state.

There were several themes in the remarks he made before a gathering of this newspaper's editorial board.

* Now is the time for a comprehensive plan. With 85 House members facing term limits, Gov. Holden hopes the out-going members will take "a broader view" and support his $620 million tax plan -- one of the largest in Missouri history -- to build and repair roads and assist in the development of public transit. If transportation isn't addressed in this session, the governor warns that the election cycle will make it difficult to address again before 2009.

* Past transportation debates raged around urban-outstate issues, but the global economy now binds the state in common interest. "Now that we've entered a global economy, it's not Cape versus Sikeston or even St. Louis, our competitors are Singapore and South America," Holden argued. Closer to home, he pointed out that Arkansas and Illinois are moving forward with infrastructure development.

"Seventy-five years ago there was a debate between St. Louis and Chicago about where national rail lines should run," he said. "St. Louis told Chicago it could have them. You can chart the decline of the city of St. Louis from that point forward."

* The governor acknowledged there is public skepticism about raising taxes to build roads since the state reneged on promises made in the past. But, unsurprisingly, he didn't want to dwell on the past. He made his own promises for "good oversight and accountability" and said the establishment of a state transportation secretary would ensure them.

The governor has begun state-wide sales promotion with the toughest item in his plan: a call for a tax increase. That this call comes upon the heels of record state revenues and historically large spending makes his task harder. But he deserves credit for an honest approach even if cutting the fat from the state's budget would have been a better place to begin.

Jon K. Rust is co-president of Rust Communications. He can be reached by e-mail at jrust@semissourian.com.