St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-22
is THERE coRRUPTIoNa

some outsiders represent II? Ii. not,
why are the members content to rest
under the unjust imputations that are
cast upon them? These are questions
that the people are prepoundlng to each
other all over this state.
For our part we have always pre-
ferred to believe that our legislative
bodies are both irreproachable and I'M
approachable. 1t is so much more COM
Portable to think that none but men of
honor can reach public station than to
be impressed with the fact that the
public interests are committed to the
hands of disreputable gang of bribe-
takers. Until the contrary is proven we
shall not be persuaded into the belief
that senators or members of the house
of representatives have itching palms,
or that they will subordinate their con-
victions to their pocketbooks.
Yet with all our confidence in the in
tegrity of our legislature as body, and
in the probity of its individual men,
bers, we confess that we do not like the
Indifference manifested by that body to
the charges of corruption that are being
rections. The charges are being made
with too much frequency and too much
positiveness to be longer submitted to
without some effort to prove their
falsity. We know it is common thing
for defeated person to ascribe his de-
feat to the use of improper influences by
the successful competitor. AS a rule
accusations Of this character go in at
one ear and out of the other, unless
some evidence is adduced in support of
the charge. And it sometimes occurs
that the one who prefers the charge of
corruption is himself as deep i'll the mire
as the other was in the mud.
But, however, much we may be in
clined to disregard accusations of gen
eral and indefinite nature, we cannot
shut our eyes or close our ears to
charges of corruption when they are
preferred by those who are in position
to know whereof they speak, and who
occupy station that entities them to a
respectful hearing. When member
of the legislative body arises in his
place on the floor of that body and
avows in the presence of his associates
that he knows of money having been
paid in large sums to one or more MEM
bers in consideration for votes, then it
becomes the duty of that body to call
halt and investigate the truth OF falSity
of the accusation. IL the member who
makes charge of corruption against
his fellow members is lying, the false
hood should be fastened upon him. If he
is telling the truth, the honor and dig
nifty of the state require that the guilty
persons should be brought to justice.
Bribery is felony. If there are any
members of the legislature guilty of the
crime, they should be Immediately trans
ferred from the state house to the state
prison. If there are any bribe-
takers in the legislature, the honest
members of that body should protect
themselves against associating with
felons by expelling them at once. How
are we to expeco to have our laws re-
spected if they are made by criminals?
AS previously stated, the GLOBE is
not prepared to believe that corruption
stalks in our legislative halls, or that it
has come to pass that it is worth mans
reputation to become a member OF the
state legislature. At the same time we
recognize the fact that the impression
has gone abroad that money has been
used in buying votes, and the legis-
lature owes it to itself and to the people
that this thing be cleared up. An in
vestigating committee should be ap-
pointed, with instructions to report all
the facts and to suppress nothing, and
then give an opportunity to those per-
sons who are so loudly proclaiming cor
ruption, to make their accusations good.
If they fail to avail themselves of the
opportunity, they will be publicly
branded as ealumniators and the legis-
Iature will be vindicated.