The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-05-04
Municipal Corruption.

A writer in one of the periodicals who is vOuch-
ed for by the editor as man of superior famili-
arity with the subject declares that 1.-The only
remedy for municipal corruption is to elect no
man to office who is not free from debit The
men who are most likely to sell their votes in
city councils, he insists are those who owe more
than they can conveniently pay, and hence find it
peculiarly hard to resist temptation. Moral
reputation is a fimsy security for good conduct"
he goes on to say; but financial competence is
very safe security indeed" 1t would be in
teresting to know where he gets the facts to
justify such a theory. There is certainly nothing
in the general revelation of municipal bribery
and plumber to show that men of the class that
he sweepingly accuses are more susceptible to
evil influences than those who are at peace with
their creditors and have surplus in bank. The
average bOodler is apt to be a man who is well
fixed so far as money is concerned, particularly
if he makes regular business of politics, as he
generally does He is not in the habit of con-
tracing debts beyond his resources. Thrift is
the leading factor in his philosophy, and he takes
care of his profits with practical wisdom. He is
always ready to be corrupted, but special neces-
sites do not urge him. it is his will, and not his
poverty, that consents. Those who seek his SER
vices are expected to deal with him on a strictly
commercial basis, and his debts are not allowed
to interfere in the least with his calm and Skillful
negotiation of the best possible bargain. 1t is
not true that moral reputation is poor security
for honest behavior in places of public trust
There is no better security than the recognized
fact that man lives an upright and industrious
life, whatever his circumstances may be. 1t is
common thing of course, for designing men to
make loud professions of morality only to cover
their intentions of rascality but they are as often
rich as often as poor, and the test of financial
conditions proves nothing in any case. The rem
edy for municipal corruption does not lie in Civ
ing preference to men on the score of the sup
posed value of we'll filled pocket protection
to their integrity. Neither want of money nor
an abundance of it is conclusive recommends
ton. Men are to be Judged not by the amount
of their possessions, but by what society knows
of their personal habits and methods. 1t is a
notorious fact that the people of city frequently
elect individuals to responsible offices who have
no standing in point of morals or of business
ability, and who could not obtain corresponding
employment from any private firm or corpora
ton. Those are the persons who cOncoct
schemes of municipal robbery, and whose official
actions can always be controlled with brides. If
the reputable voters deliberately choose such
men to manage the affairs of a city, they must
expect corruption to prevail There is only one
way to secure the right kind of municipal govern
ment and that is to select public officers with the
same regard for capable and trustworthy quail
ties that is constantly shown in the selection of
agents to handle funds and execute other i'm
portant functions in the ordinary course of COM
mercial transactions.-St. Louis GlObe-Democrdt
An unofficial list of the members of the new
house of representatives has just been published
It shows that of the 356 seats but one is vacant
| and that of misrepresentation 22O are democrats