The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-11-26
MpnaVOly and (OrruptiuIt.

The prevalence of political corrup-
ton is an argument always in the
mouths of the opponents Of govern
ment control of transportation and
production. 1t is asserted that were
the sphere of government extended to
include the management of railroads
and telegraphs, the issue of the cur
rency and the organization of industry,
it would be simply giving greater op
portunities for boodling on an extern
siyc scale. The scandals and rogueries
unearthed in connection with govern
ment enterprises are quoted as con
elusive answer TO the proposal to
superse,le monopoly management hv
that of fhe State As we have fire.
quentlv pointed ont, the argument is
an unfair one. inasmuch as the very
| worst and most conspicuous cases of
municipal and political corruption
arose not in connection with the actual
management of enterprises or the direct
construction of public works. but in the
granting of franchises and the letting
of contracts: in other words the pro-
cess of delegating to individuals the
work which the government ought to
do directly. But passing by this view
of the question, the corruption argu-
ment assumes that the management of
monopoly and ordinary commercial
enterprises as at present conducted is
more honest than government admin
istration. This is wholly gratuitous
assumption, and is contradicted every
day by the news of defalcations, en-
bezzlements and crooked work by
! trusted officials in the employ Of cor
porations or private firms. There is
an infinitely greater amount of detected
corruption and dishonest appropria-
tion of funds by the financial agents
and representatives Of railroads. banks
and joint stock companies than by
government officials. Stealing of this
sort, moreover, is much harder to de-
tect than similar rascality in connec-
ton with government department.
where every action is closely scrutin-
lied by the press and the politicians of
the opposite party, who are often ready
to pick flaws where none exist. The
latest instance iii point is the dismissal
by the Adams Express Company of
John Hoev, who has been identified
with the concern for forty years and
was for three years its President. and
who has been proved to have received
commissions for himself aud friends
amounting to 100000 on deal in
which the company purchased the
stock of other express companies.
Surely this is fully as bad as anything
unearthed in the way of political hood
ling of late wears Yet if such a steal
had occurred in any of the government
departments the whole country would
have rung with il for months, and it
would be quoted years afterward as il
conclusive reason why the government
should not he intrusted with the man
agement Of railroads or tclegraphs,
whereas now it is likely to be speedily
forgotten. There is no knowing the
extent to which this practice of receiv-
ing commissions on TRANSACTIONS
made on account Of corporations is car
ried by men i'll Hoey's posi- ion, but
there is every reason to suppose that il
is very prevalent, and that it is only
by chance that delinquent here and
there is discovered and exposed. II
all such enterprises were managed by
the government they would be fan
more honestly conducted. journal OF
the knights of Labor.
Let business Men Think.
) Every daily paper printed in Mime
arolis and ST. Paul has been engaged
for the past six months in Justify howl
ing prosperity. prosperity, prosper
ity!' In the early summer they mad.
| the most confident and exaggerated
, statements concerning the certainty O.
good times this fall. holding up pic
, lures of a steady volume of trade whicl
} should tax the energies and resource.
/ of every man engaged in any legitimat,
! enterprise in these two cities. Ever,
project of a public character, like tn,
| exposition, the State fair and the har
vest festival, was urged upon all sort
, of business men as the exact mean
whereby their best interests would b.
promoted and u due share of the in
Y croaseu volume of trade come witt! i,