The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20


49, '"rhey have taken recess and
our representative Is homo on q vaca-
! tion.'' sa sf5
Well. what Of it?"@ asked Colonel NJ on
roe, without looking up from his pa
per. 40
Gle says there is nothing doing down
there grlnned Jenkins. He says he
could have made more money staying
home From the way Jake talks. don't
think he will get back what II cost him
for campaign assessments and election
Expenses.
"IIe might sue the party managers for
obtaining money under false pretenses."
suggested the colonel. ''Since graft Is q
recognized perqusite, and grating areg-
ular profession. there should be some
way to protect tho financial interests
OF those who invest therein. Still, the
courts would probably decide against our
! fellow townsman. 1t Is generally
recognized that the amount Of graft
most zenlous sp il'mf n IS a elu we a. ant
lity. 1t is largely a matter Of luck or
cir cumstanccs. Some sessions are good,
and others are bad The courts would
probably rule that the value OF an Of
. flee is speculative, and that Jake took
the chance with his eyes wide open. How
ever, should like to SEQ test made.
and hope that the Hon. Jacob Will stand
on his financial rights, If he has any"
''He says that there Is as much money
pa sslng hands rs ever" explained Jen-
lsins, "but he claims that q few fellows
at tho top hog It all, or nearly all Flo
says that the common, ordinary member
Is not allowed to spring anything new.
or to hold up a scheme In order to get
; n fair shake. They have to take what
the big fellows are willing to. give them
and look thankful, whether they are or
not. or course, this Is his first term.
but he is satisfied that business is not
what It used to be In what he calls the
good old days."
| II could have warned him OF that, had
he come to me- said Colonel Monroe
with grim smile. Graft surely Is not
! what 1t used to be. There are three
! leading reasons for this condition OF af-
| fairs, In the first place. there Is more
| competition among those who are Wilt &
ana anxious to sell their votes In tho
good old days boodler had to make
hard fight against the honest man before
he could carry an election. Now, as
q rule, 1t Is simply a contest between two
men, both OF whom are running Tor
profit, and not for fame or honor, For
mcrly, the boodlcr won by holding the
balance of power In an assembly. inc
large ma jority OF which were honest men.
/. lIo commanded a high price by reason or
his rarity 1t was n question OF supply
and demand, There were few boodlers;
and they came high. .They also ran all
kinds Of risks. They ever stood facing
the doors of Jail. We had crude, old
4 fashioned notions Of decency In those
good old days The known or suspect ed
CRATER was not admitted into tho So
clety Of respectable people, He won
his money spells at the sacrifice o. MS
own good name, and fastened stain OF
disgrace on his family. lie STOOD no.
higher than any other man suspected or
being a thief The lntolerant citizens
Of those days were wont 70 rlue tna
CRATER on a rail or decorate him Win
coats OF feathers. Like all hazardous oc-
equations. this one commanded h;gh
nay. But as time has progressed these
risks have vanished and the public nn7
tlpathy against grafters has large dis
K appeared ~,
THE olcl-tlme CRATER was a man enti-
tied to a certain degree of respect ln-
less he possessed IN a high degree the
/ outer senblnnce of statesman and al
of the mental and oratorica gifts once
4 demanded of the mon who aspired 10
4 Office he stood no chance OF success,
Coupled with natural but perverted
ABILITY, there was demanded the quality
or courage--a courage dogged ana UNI
/ nInchlng. Your od-tlme CRATER was q
| gentlemanly, Legislative highwayman-a
nolitical rariah who valued his life light
i " ana eXacted tribute In proportion 10
| the risks assumed.
| 4 compared to him the modern grallers
! are dogs and jackals who snari ana
! quarrel over bones In forest where
| lion once had man for his quarry. They
ruH na risk ~ ssTsssiona! kick rem