Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-10-26
A0AiN THE GRAND JURY.

Another grand jury has been sworn
In and II now In course of operation.
II IL composed of the usual irrcsponsl-
bic aggregation. with u few citizens OF
standing thrown In.
We are informed that there IL to he
further investigation of Robert Il.
Burkc's office and the conduct there.
of.
This Is not surprising, but II 1t
should he attempted It will he nm out.
rage just the same.
There Is unfortunately u disposition
among u certain class of people to fol-
low n lead or fad In the direction of
| alleged reform or indeed In any other
| direction, just as u flock Of sheep will
follow II bcll-wcther. Grand iuries In
Cook County are usually of this char
actcr. The one which brought Its III
bOrs to close few weeks ago set the
pace. Foreman Joy Morton was the
hell wcthcr. the other twenty-five fol-
lowed his lead, ana now the present
body. we are Informed. has decided to
follow In the footsteps of its pretleces.
| sor.
There Is to DO more investigation Of
the office Of II. j.. Burke.
| Why?
| Is Il for the purpose of reforming the
manner In which that office has been
run?
| Hardly. The Mayor and the city
Council have undertaken that work;
the plan proposed has already been
outlined and discussed In these col
umns. ana has secured the approval of
the press and the public. The Mayor
ana the City Council are the proper
parties to make this reform, ana they
have the authority to do 1t.
II not for the purpose OF suggesting
some reform of the office. what, then.
Is the motive of the grand jury In pro-
ceeding with II further "investiga'
tionI"
Is It for the purpose of discovering
whether or not Mr.. Burke has retained
fees In excess of the sum deposited by
him with the Comptroller, to make good
any alleged shortage In turning over
fees of his office to the city?
II cannot be that, for the simple rea'
son that the sum deposited IL far In
excess of that claimed and recoverable
under the statute of limitations.
What, then, Is the object of the grand
jury in again taking up this subject?
1t Is. in the opinion of The Eagle, Il
twofold one.
First, we believe 1t Is an attempt to
continue the persecution ana the har
assing tactics. by which the conspira
tors who originally planned this attack
on Mr.. Burke hoped to force him moi
only out of office but out of politica
prominence and control.
Republican grand jurles have beer
looked to as the very ready ana avail
able instrument to accomplish this oh
icct. and while they have been lcaven
ed by sprinkling of recalcitrant Dem
ocrats, they have been all the bette
suited to that end.
Second, among men OF certain can
her, brought up In particular set %
surroundings ana educational ana 50
cial circumstances. there Is usually pre-
valling a strange condition of mental
ty. This condition Is one of inyincibi
ignorance as to the real circumstance
, of public affairs and their conduct, pub
lie officials and their makeup, ana II
fact in regard to most things outsid
their own Immediate affairs ana condl
: tiOns in life.
{ This mental darkness is just faintl!
. ,illumined by distorted rays OF infOrma
ton which flick from the columns o
: biased and partisan newspapers, ray
which only add shadows where TIT
! total blackness of night previously pre-
vailed.
! Through all of this there runs Ger
tain vain Of curiosity, accompanied b!
4 another equally balanced proportion o
vanity or love Of nOtOriety. Laborini
: under this distressing metaphysical
condition, the average Grand Jurymal