The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-02
THE REMOVAL OF GOV. JENKINS.


The Presidents removal of Governor
Jenkins. of Oklahoma, has a political sig
nifcance far beyond its personal OF local
aspect The country cares nothing for
Mr.. Jenkins personally, nor much as TO
who is Governor of Oklahoma beyond a
general desire that the Territory may be
well and honestly governed But it is deep
ly concerned in the establishment of the
rule that public office is public trust and
in the maintenance of high standard of
official integrity. From this point of view
the removal of Governor Jenkins carries
an instructive lesson and is significant of
what may be expected of President Roose-
welt in all cases involving the same prin-
ciple. The case is the more remarkable
because Mr.. Jenkins, first appointed as
secretary of the Territory, was appointed
Governor for four years by President Nc
Kinley only few months before the lat
ter's death. No person reveres the memory
Of President Mckinley more profoundly
than President Roosevelt does, and only
a very strong sense of duty could induce
him to undo any act or remove any APP
pointee of his predecessor. From this point
OF view his conclusion was doubtless
reached reluctantly. but he makes II plain
that he regarded his duty imperative.
Had he removed Jenkins without assigning
any reasons, as he had a perfect right to
do. some might have said he was actuated
by an unworthy motive. The reasons he
assigns forestall this charge and end all
argument. He says: Governor Jenkins, of
Oklahoma is hereby removed because of
his improper connection with contract
between the Territory and the Oklahoma
| Sanatorium Company" The precise Of
Tense was a request by the Governor that
in return for certain contract given the
| Sanatorium Company, it should reserve and
set apart for him ten thousand dollars
worth Of its stock. which afterward proved
to be valuable 1t appeared in evidence
that the Governor told the company: Il
have some friends whom I would like to
have interested in the company TO whom I
owed some political obligations which I
would not be able to pay by an appoint
ment or anything Of that kind" In pur-
| delivered to a banker. subject to the Gov
ernor's order, and was by him turned over
| to the friends alluded to. OF course, this
was done in payment Of borrowed money
or for political services. and to hquidate
an obligation which the Governor was I'M
made "a good thing for himself and his
friends out of an official contract with a
/ corporation which it was probably under
stood at the time should compensate itself
by making extra profits out of the Ter
ritory. After stating these facts, which
were established beyond a doubt. the Presi-
dent says:
sound rule of public policy and morals
| fOrbids a public servant from seeking or
| accepting any personal benefit in a trans
| action wherein he has a public duty to per-
form chancellor would not for one mo-
| ment retain a trustee who, in dealings for
| the trust, reserved an advantage TO him
self. The thought is not to be tolerated
| that the President can be less vigilant and
| exacting in the public interest.
AS to the justice of the rule here laid
down and the propriety of the Presidents
action there can be no doubt, and yet
there are men in politics and perhaps some
in office who will think it a hard rule.
| There are some men in office-it is to be
hoped not many and that their tribe may
not increase-who think it perfectly legiti-
| mate to make a good turn for themselves
or their friends out of official contracts or
in almost any way short of actual embez-
| element Some of these will say: 'Why,
Jenkins didn't get anything. He was only
taking care of his friends, and I've no use
for a man who won't do that" No doubt
1t has been done thousands of times, but
that does not make the practice any less
indecent or corrupt. Whoever accepts pub
lie Office without a paramount conviction
that it is a public trust, with deter
mination TO take care of his friends in any
other way than is plainly authorized by
law. Is a traitor to the people and to re-
publican government. By removing Gov
ernor Jenkins for the cause stated PresI
dent Roosevelt has given public notice
that he will enforce high standard OF Of
fetal ethics and will not tolerate any de.
parture from the idea that public office is
a public trust.
THE HOUSE CAUCUSES.
The significant feature of the House Re-