Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-01-07
THE "GOOD CITIZENS AND
CORRUPTION.

In these days when the good citi
zen" and the municipality are in the
foreground Of public discussion. Our
citizens will find many timely thoughts
and suggestions in the Proceedings Of
the Columbus Conference for Good
City Government" published by the
National Municipal League. This
volume contains in detail all the pa
pers read and discussion on the lead
ing topics edited by Secretary Clinton
Rogers Woodruff of Philadelphia.
Aside from the specific topics dealt
with by members of the League thu
volume gives remarks, made by promi.
nent guests in attendance, of general
nature.
Allan W. Thurman of Columbus, o.,
was one Of these outside speakers who
pronounced a series of living truths
that bear directly upon the source of
legislative and official corru Jtion. A
portion of his remarks which may be
read with profit by every citizen Of
Honolulu was as follows:
AT every municipal convention
have ever attended. | have heard abuse
hurled at the politician. They are
charged with all the fraud and all the
evil of government, and especially mu-
nicipal government. The boss is
damned and the ring is damned but
why not damn the right thing?
why the boss and the ring are
simply the products Of the briber. They
are the children of your ordinarily
good citizen who parades himself as
an honest business man. | suppose
you go on the theory spare the rod
and spoil the child That may be but
in this case you would better take n
club to the old man DO you need
proof OF it? Why, 1t was only a short
time ago, that company in the citg
of Columbus was granted a franchise
by the City Council 1t Is common
talk. and by those who profess to know,
~" that llciNHlot Ndo
the amount of money paid has been
specified.
The men who are said to be inter
ested in the corporation are members
of the Board Of Trade and are among
the best citizens. They go to church
and hitch their horses on the outside
xxgh - a4.ty
Sunday.
There is not one Of them who would
go and deliberately offer Councilman
a bride. They are too cowardly to do
this, but they will hide themselves be-
hind that corporation whose employees
Immediately seek out the boss II there
is one, to manipulate affairs for them.
These gentlemen simply enjoy the usu-
fruct.
why not, then, tell them what they
are? Why not call them by their right
names, Just the same as you call the
political boss and the political ring by
their right names? Go to work and
reform these gentlemen; make 1t 50
that If any business man thinks so lit
tile of the institutions OF his country
that for the sake of greed he will offer
brides and debauch public servants,
you will cast him out.
Another thing, II you don't believe
all this take hand some time In prac-
teal politics and you will learn IT,;
for there is hardly a private election
held in any city in this Union for mem
bers of the Council or other municipal
offices, where you will not find these
same pious gentlemen, through the
political machines of both parties, en-
deavoring to have selected as candi-
dates only such candidates as they
know can be used. ! have known
this to happen in the city of Columbus
cannot say how many times, and 1t
will continue to happen until you drive
this man, this briber, this gentlemanly
source of evil out of the problem"
How true these remarks are every