Fair play., 1903-12-12
REPUBLICANS AND DOODLE.
Thorough Renovation Demanded and
Necessary in the Federal
Service.

Such meager accounts of the depart.
ment swindles as have heretofore filtered
into the press have but poorly served tC
prepare the public mind for Bristow'.
revelations, and the sense of shock i:
keen and profound. The extent anG
character of graft as disclosed by the re-
port is almost Supplying, and were 4
not for the fact that the public is accus.
toned to the idea of millions. the mere
numerical magnitude would be difficult
Of comprehension. Fifteen years age
millions of graft would have been al
most unintelligible, says the st. Louis
Republic.
That graft in one department alone
has been on scale to justify the en-
ployment of 40 inspectors for six months
In investigating it is a suggestive fac.
which assists the Imagination to grasp
the truth. And that the system discov-
cred has been developing through two
administrations, extending its ramifi-
cations and perfecting it's operations.
| undisturbed save by superficial exam
| nations, is another poignant fact. And
| President Roosevelts expressions. such
as gross corruption" bribery and
blackmail," fleeing the public" give
further color and suggestion to the great
melancholy fact
Unquestionably the principal signifi-
canoe CT MIR. Bristow's report is TO con-
firm the belief that graft is deep-rooted
I'm nrnptipallV e
ecutive business and to strengthen the
public conviction that the only way to
cure 1t effectually is to apply the whole
sale cure of the ballot Mr.. Roosevelts
own comments make legitimate and
proper the discussion of the scandals
political phase at this time Obviously
he seeks thus early to anticipate and
avoid the political effect of the dis
closure.
In discussing the matter of cure. he
says: "All questions of difference in
party policy sink into insignifcanco
when the people of the country are
brought face to face with a question like
this" Essuredly such differences ought
to sink unless they are vital to the cure
itself If they initiated against the
thoroughgoing renovation obviously de-
manded and conceded to be necessary in
the federal service they ought to be ig-
nored by the people
But what are the differences" and
how do they affect reform? The demo-
cratic party insists upon a final and COM
plete overhauling of the service and the
utter demolition of graft. The repub-
lican party has put itself in the attitude
Of defense upon the issue Of reform.
From the outset it has been an apolo-
gist, seeking on the one hand to excuse
corruption which was revealed. DENYING
party responsibility therefor. and on the
other hand denying that extensive graz,
existed. Not until investigations and cx-
posures became inevitable, perforce Of
| public insistence, did the administration
| act, and its progressions in the work
have been marked by reluctance and by
| sullenness toward the public. For the
| partial results actually achieved the ad-
ministration deserves credit, but no
| amount Of reform activity henceforth
can change the fact of its early attitude
| 'BNA' NhA 'iiltuios ~ mas StDUElI 10
make a virtue of necessity; of which the
| people are duly cognizant 1t now ad-
mits the extent and character of the
| frauds-those only, however. of which
the nation is already fully informed
| and vigorously proclaims that reform 10
necessary. The difference" to which
Mr.. Roosevelt refers relates to the ques-
tion of which party is better calculated
to accomplish the work.
II Is equally difficult to believe that the
republican party if retained in power
and left to its own devices would seri-
ously disturb the present conditions OF
federal service; and 20 comprehend how
wholesale renovation. consequent up
on change of administration, could fail
to produce the desired result. Let the re-
publican party be judged by its reform"
record