The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-12-12
ROOSEVELT ON DOODLE.

Such meager accounts of the de-
the press had but poorly served to
prepare the public mind for Bristow's
revelations. and the sense of shock
is keen and profound. The extent and
character Of graft as disclosed by the
report is almost Supplying, and were
it not for the fact that the public is
accustomed to the idea of millions, the
mere numerical magnitude would be
difficult of comprehension. Fifteen
years ago millions Of graft would
have been almost unintelligible.
That graft in one department alone
has been on scale to justify the en-
ployment of forty inspectors for six
months in investigating it is sugges-
tive fact which assists the imagina-
ton to grasp the truth. And that the
system discovered has been develop
ing through two administrations, ex-
tending its ramif1cations and perfecting
it's operations, undisturbed save by
superficial examinations, is another
velts expressions, such as gross cor
ruption,' bribery and blackmail,'
"feecing the public give further col
or and suggestion to the great melan-
chOly fact.
Unquestionably the principal signif-
icance of Mr.. Bristow's report is to
confirm the belief that graft is deep
rooted in practically every department
en- the public conviction that the only
way to cure it effectually is to apply
the wholesome cure of the ballot. Mr..
RoOsevelt's own comments make legitl-
mate and proper the discussion of the
scandals political phase at this time.
Obviously he seeks thus early to an
ticipate and avoid the political effect
of the disclosures
In discussing the matter of cure, he
says: "All questions of difference in
party policy sink into insignificance
when the people of the country are
brought face to face with question
like this" Assuredly such differences
ought to sink unless they are vital to
the cure itself. If they initiated
against the thoroughgoing renovation
obviously demanded and conceded to
be necessary in the federal service they
ought to be ignored by the people.
But what are the differences" and
how do they affect reform? The dem
ocratic party insists upon final and
complete overhauling of the service
and the utter demolition of graft. The
republican party has put itself in the
attitude of defense upon the issue of
reform. From the outset it has been
ian apolOgist, seeking on the one hand
to excuse the corruption which was re-
vealed, denying party responsibility
therefor, and on the other hand deny
ing that extensive graft existed. Not
until Investigations and exposures be-
came inevitable, perforce of public in
sistence, did the administration act,
and its prOgressiOns in the work have
been marked by reluctance and by sui
lennesS toward the public. For the
partial results actually achieved the
administration deserves credit, but no
amount of reform activity henceforth
can change the fact of it's early atti-
tude upon the scandals. 1t has sought
to make a virtue of necessity; of which
the people are duly cognizant. 1t now
admits the extent and character of the
frauds-thOse only, however, of which
! the nation is already fully informed
and vigorously proclaims that reform
| is necessary. The difference" to which
Mr.. Roosevelt refers relates to the
question of which party is better CAL
| culated to accomplish the work.
1t is equally difficult to believe that
the republican party if retained in
power and left to it's own devices
would seriously disturb the present
conditions of federal service; and to
comprehend how a wholesale renova-
ton, consequent upon a change of ad-
ministration, could fail to produce the
desired result. Let the republican
party be judged by its reform re-
cord.