Arizona republican., 1895-08-28
ROGUES IN OFFICE.
Arizona is not the only place curse

city clerk and water commissioner hay. ing forged bonds and stolen funds on a wholesale scale. Hardly a week goes by but some new exposure is made of swindling and theft by public servants in some part of the country. It is condition of things which in- wolves loss and disgrace to the con- munity and the question of the cause and cure of such condition is very grave one.
 People who pull long face and say it is hopeless and ineurable evil, that where there is politics there must be corruption, are unnecessarily despond ent. There have been and are coun- tries where all public officials are scrupulously honest, and there IS every reason why it should be so in our own territory.
 Just there, in the popular feeling, the reform must begin. On entering office, there IS almost an expectation on the part of the people, that the man will 'make all he can on the side." that he will accept bribes, make dishonest bar gains. levy blackmail. take commissions and pocket public money in general, 80 1 long as his acts are not too glaring. The man on the street conveys this idea of all office-holders with knowinng wink. Generally there is no idea that anyone in taking public office will be as honest as if he took position h store or bank. Now that posture of the public mind can be and ought to be changed. The man who is elected to public service receives high honor and accepts 8 solemn responsibility, and every body ought to feel that dishonest trickery and theft on his part IS a monstrous crime with which no decent person would soil himself. To some ex- tent the office holders view of his posi- tion will be moulded by the popular view of it.
 To pick the cleanest, purest and ablest men for all elective offices de- wolves upon the people. But they have left it to political eliques who promote the election of thelr tools,-political CUTS who have done all their lives dirty work. who are without principle, con- science or public spirit, and whose only ambition is to worm their way to the seats of power where they may prey upon the people. These professional politicians, chronic ofice-seekers, ,--the type is well-known, with small brains, mean passions and absolutely no con- ception of the higher side of politics these merely partisan scavengers need not be elected to office. It is only pub lie neglect and indifference in the mat. ters of nomination and election which allow it universally to be done. Good and honest men will take pu bile honors but not if they are to be disgraced by association with interruptions rogues. 1 Pilfering or dishonesty in public servants is crime which allows of no mitigation or excuse. What happened in the case of Taylor in South Dakota There was com mpromise and conformation and gentle sentence. The very fullest penalty should be visited on the offend- CT with all the weight of vehement pull lie condemnation. But the usual thing is to pity the poor, unfortunate man, because he has been found out. That's where the mischief comes in.
 With change in public sentiment, which is indeed coming, with the deter imitation to overthrow political rings and%lect the best and purest, and with the inauguration of the strictest busi- nets methods in every public office, there is every reason to hope that rogues will not much longer occupy the seats of honor.
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