The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-24
A GOOD EXAMPLE.

The country has not yet wholly IOF-
gotten the scandals growing out Of the
circumstances attending the meat sup
ply during the military campaign in
Cuba Out of that situation the ma
tional administration emerged with very
little of credit to itself. The exhaustive
efforts made afterwards to whitewash
the embalmed beef frauds were pure
and simple the product of questionable
politics. The people themselves at the
last presidential election, however, took
hand in the embarrassing operation,
with the result that those frauds may
now be regarded as belonging to the
dead past Gen. Miles is still at the head
of the army of the United States. Folger
is in perhaps permanent oblivion; while
Egan is in the enjoyment Of his COM
Portable retirement.
The lesson Of the Cuban frauds has
not been lost on the administration. The
method of handling subsequent scandals
has differed very materially from that
pursued in the emIbalmed beef cases.
While it is recognized by all thoughtful
men that more or less Of scandal is a
necessary attendant of army contracts,
both here and in other countries, the
people at Washington have exhibited the
most commemorate determination since
to show little liberation of those who
have been detected while engaged in
like frauds. The deportation of Nicely
| was followed by the punishment of the
minor frauds discovered in Manila. And
now, as the dispatches show. Quarter
master Barrows and his accomplices
have been handled by their superiors
without gloves
The reading public is not in position
to judge of the merits of the case made
out against the army officers involved
in the latest scandals in Manila: but
they may be regarded as perfectly will
ing to accept the conclusions reached
as entirely warranted by the evidence.
There is unlimited popular faith in the
honor of those in command in army cir
cles The men of the regular army
have their own code of ethics, which
| differs nightly from that which is rec
ognized as prevailing among civil
ians, especially among those CIV
| ilians who actively engage themselves in
martial is very useful institution es-
pecially when considered in connection
| with the summary trial and punishment
of those found to be engaged in dishon-
est public transactions.
There will prevail more or less regret
that a volunteer officer of a Minnesota
regiment has been found engaged in
these transactions. Among the imme-
| date friends and townsmen of Capt.
| Barrows there will prevail a good deal
of genuine regret, if not for him at
least for those who through family con-
| nection are identified with him. But
the result is one which will give general
satisfaction, and for which the admins
tration is entitled to the full measure Of
credit The prompt and effective pun
ishment OF such offenses offers the SAT-
est assurance that can be provided
against the extension of such frauds It
is not possible to prevent them wholly
but the example which is offered
through the conviction of these men will
have the most healthful influence on the
future administration of the quartermas-
ter's department. as well as in civil en-
ployments, in the new possessions.