The San Francisco call., 1896-06-16

WV years ago rang tHlOusH cFOAy otA'e,
In every village and town and along every
county road in the United States as the
peerless exposer of political corruption In
New York City.
Contrary to the natural expectation he
IS not q man of tall stature. We are ac-
eqstomed to associate great size win
great deeds, and this because OF the
hereditary instinct from our savage an
cestors, whose great deads were battles
and contests of physical prowess, ana the
winners of which contests were neces-
sarlly large and powerful men.
So when you. stumble over small man
who has achieved greatness IN politics,
and especially conqueror OF the strongly
intrenched hosts OF corruption, ana
against an organization so mighty as Tam
many Hail. you are likely to pass him py
without further notice, except TO curse
him, if you are profane, for being the cause
OF your stubbing your toe against ms
pigmy personality.
Senator Lexow is about the medium
height or rather little under 1t. lie can
not weigh more than 125 pounds ana MS
narrow, STOPPING shoulders and thin neck
make him appear even lighter. The nat,
straightforward hat so much IN vogue
among the delegates does not impart any
dignity to his appearance.
His nose is small and straight, neither
aqulllne nor retrousse; his ears are small
and symmetrical, his eyes blue ana
his closely trimmed beard and mustache
are dark brown. Back of his ears
the silver lining of his forty-four years
of life has made its appearance and
there Is no doubt that the terrible strain
and weight of the responsibility OF polltl-
cal upheavel, OF which he was the head
and front, have darkened the brightness
of his prime
That which struck me most forcibly was
the GOODNESS and steadiness of nerve OF the
man.
His eye is as clear as that of marksman
on the prairies and his voice is low and
even. Such man, think, would stand
in front of foe and return shot for shot
until he dropped in his tracks.
He answered the first question l asked
him as quietly as though he had been fore
warned of it.
Speaking generally, what would you
suggest, / began, Ito remedy corruption
in politics?''
"A higher degree of citizenship" was
the reply, "a broader and more liberal
education"
This was putting reform many years in
the future. The Senator meant it, how
ever, for he went on: "The rule is true
that in the best educated districts, where
intelligence is highest and the appreciation
of education is greatest, there will be the
least corruption"
The Senator takes issue with Herbert
Spencer on this point, but he spoke from
his American experience. "Also in those
communities" continued the Senator,
where wealth is more evenly divided a
higher standard of citizenship is observed.
''It has been said that the laws will be
sufficient, but you are not going to reduce
corruption by legal processes or by enact
ing laws. The only effective way In which
it can be done is by raising the civic pride
of the individual, and this by liberalizing
the education of the citizens"
The speaker went on to say that possi-
bly, the result of stringent legislation,
which might diminish corruption so far as
ones own State was concerned, and the
safeguard which had been thrown around
the machinery of elections, would mitigate
any attempts to debase or debauch the
franchise very materially. "sa
1T was well understood" continued
Senator Lexow, 'before the day on which
the investigation was initiated, that cor
ruption ruled in more than one depart
ment of the city police system, but so long
as it remained improved as a fact people
aE 4 |.
methods of corruption and abuse that ex-
listed.
sit was no long before the revelations
which were. made before the committee
demonstrated that perfect system had
been established, permeating the police
department from the lowest to the highest,
and the establishment OF that as fact
produced the political revolution that oc-
Cured a few years ago.
Whatever else may have been the re-
suit of that investigation, it is quite GER
tain that for number of years a general
sy stem of corruption will not prevail, and
it is very doubtful whether any perfect
system such as that which we found in
New York will ever again be organized" !"
In reply to questions as to the seeming
reaction which restored the Tammany
power the Senator explained that it was
largely due to the importation into the
campaign of the liquor issue.
Under the plea of personal liberty, the
cosmopolitan city of New York was stirred
to its depths and responded, but not IN
any sense to the extent that had been ex-
pected by Tammany Hall or the Demo
cratic organization.
"It was close fight at BEST" continued
the Senator "for although the normal
Democratic majority was between $4,000
Continued on Fifth Page.