The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-01
ENGLISH VIEW OF AMERICAN
CITIES.

Editor W. T. Stead of the Review of
Reviews, has been suppIementing IF
Christ Came to Chicago by another
work devoted to New York and its
politics, entitled THE Failure of Demo-
cratic Rule in New York The tale of
political corruption and bad govern
ment which he tells, while perhaps, ex-
aggerated cannot be said to be wholly
without warrant by those familiar
with the political and municipal his
tory of the metropolis.
The most interesting feature of the
work lies in his suggestion of a remedy
for the evils which exist and are likely
to continue and grow under the auto
cratic power of the mayor under the
new charter. It is no less than the
establishment of what might be termed
a journalistic inquisition. Stead's ideas
along this line are best told in his own
words. He says:
4 would ask those who despair over
the corruption that eats into the hearts
of American cities why not give stat
utory authority TO American journal
ism to create, maintain and carry on a
1eXoW committee in peTmanence, with
intended powers for the purpose of dis
covering and handing over for punish
ment all those prey1ng upon the public2
There is no remedy like the light of
day Those evils exist in the midst of
our communities because they can be
l.
lies upon the cloak of darkness. Tear
away the cloak, proclaim things done in
secret upon the hOusetOps, and the
crook will walk the straight path.
THE enterprise of the American
newspaper is great, but though it res
cues SenOrita CisnerOs, it cannot locate
the boodler and prove who paid the
Doodle. 1t may suspect, know and ac-
cuse, but without it's LexOW committee
it can neither prove nor convict 1t
may be objected that such a tribunal
Il frr1nN Fnnn
amy, but beyond arming the proposed
body with adequate powers to enforce
attendance, punish contempt and i'm
pose penalties for perjury, it would not
be invested with any power of inf1icting
punishment Having ascertained the
1eacts, it would hand over the guilty per
son to ordinary civil or criminal tribu-
mails, binding witnesses to appear at the
trial
Its functions would be those of in
yestigatiOn for purpose of providing
case for the ordinary tribunals so there
would be no interference with the safe
guards provided by the law and the
constitution for the liberty of the citi-
zen and the impartial administration
of justice.
Secondly, the proceedings of the in
QUESTION would be conducted under the
full glare of publicity; even if within
its power to hold a secret session no
action could be taken at such a session
until it had been confirmed in the light
of day Both at the inception and the
close of a case the inQuisitiOn would be
public tribunal liable to public critic
ism and amenable to public opinion. Its
chief duty would be obtaining infOrma-
tiOn prOvable in court for the protec-
tiOn of the public. 1t would be unrea-
SOnable to fear that such a court could
be capable of the abuses of the star
chamber or the inquisition where Sc
crecy made the power irresponsible.
If it be admitted that such tribu-
nal might with advantage be created
the question arises as to how it should
be constituted The paralysis of faith
in the integrity of the elected man
which prevails in America would pre-
clude the hope OF securing a competent
and inhexible inquisitOr-generaI by
election. If, however, the Journalism
that acts be allowed TO follow the nat
ural path Of evolution, it might be rec
Ognized as a power in the state to
whose initiative might be left by stat
ute the task Of appointing the inquisi-
tor and of bringing cases before the in
QUESTION.
IF the choice of an inquisitOr- general
were left to journalists, each of whom
is an inquisitor himself you would at
least have a small expert constituency
each of them with direct interest in
making a good selection If the duty
of bringing cases before the court We're
limited to Journalists, the door would be
closed against the irresponsible calum-
nies of miscellaneous scandal mOngers,
for the only persons who could then
set the tribunal in motion would be the
newspaper, which would lose in pres
tige and in authority should it bring
forward a case which. on investigation
proved to be baseless."