The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-26
COLONEL MoNRoE'S DOCTRINE
Vigorous DenuncintiOn of Legisla-
tive and Municipal Corruption.
By FREDERICK UPHAM ADAMS.
Copyright, 1908, by Frederick Upham
Adams

By FREDERICK UPHAM ADAMS.
Copyright, 1908, by Frederick Upham
Adams.
Senator Kellogg let the contract for
his new house to-day" announced
Postmaster Jenkins, as he locked the
safe for the night. IT'S going to cost
$500 George has done pretty well
since we sent him to the Legislature.
He's a smarter man than l gave him
credit for" he added, with a glance at
the colonel.
by which you mean that he has
been able. to command higher price
for his votes than you expected" OBJ
served Col. Monroe, coldly.
81 didn't say that" protested Jen-
kins. HE probably did just what most
men would have done in his place.
They say there was lots of money fly
ing around the State Capitol this year,
and l guess George needed some of 1t.
Three years ago he couldn't pay his
grocery bills and now they say that
he is worth at least $5O,OOO."
In other words, you think that SEN
| ator Kellogg is a thief" said Judge
Sawyer, sternly. You also seem 10
], think that most men would be thieves
if placed in his position. Thank God,
l have not yet arrived at that opinion
of the American people"
jenkins stammered a meaningless re-
ply and looked appealingly at Col. Mon
| roe.
II don't believe" said that gentle
man, that the mass OF American citi-
| zens aspire to be thieves, but it is evil
dent that most thieves aspire to be leg
| islators. And why not? Can you name
| any field of operation in which a dis
| honest man can so effectively plumber
| the community as in a state or munich
| pal Legislature? 1t is a sad thing to
| say, but 1 doubt if in all recorded his
tory so many inscriptions men have
held positions of public trust as in this
country at the present time"
That is a strong statement, and 1
sincerely hope it is not true said
| Judge Sawyer.
THE time has come when this ma
ton must look the facts fairly in the
face" declared Col. Monroe. "Legsla-
tive corruption and official bribery are
established institutions. Office holding
is business, and the purchase of IA
vors recognized profession. No such
condition of affairs existed until recent
years. There had been isolated cases
of bribery, and occasionally a legisla-
tive body would be suspected of wrong
doing, but the public gave no credence
to these tales, and could not be con-
WINGED that their representatives dared
betray them, To-day every intelligent
man knows that there are numerous
states and scores of cities where money
is the only factor used in influencing
legislation. There are at least four
states where the faint of corruption
has spread to the individual voters,
and where the electors are bought and
sold as openly as cattle in the Chicago
stock yards"
What you say is unfortunately too
true" admitted Judge Sawyer, but
there are thousands of upright men in
public office. There are millions of cit
liens whose votes cannot be bought"
Then it is time that these honest
off1ceholders and citizens aroused
themselves" insisted Col Monroe
why is there no great popular up
rising to bring bride givers and bribe
takers to punishment? The facts in
the case can no longer be suppressed
or evaded Every state capitol and
city council has it's lobby. Hundreds
of corporations are known to have
funds set aside for purposes of corrup-
ton. 1t is common to see men spend
$40, 900 to be elected to a So 900 position.
and to watch them while they amass
fortunes in violation of their oaths.
Who has been sent to Jail in conse-
quence? How many honest Legislators
have arisen in their seats to denounce
the acts which are committed under
their very eyes?"
yer.
Right this moment franchises and
privileges worth in the aggregate hun
dreds of millions of dollars' asserted
Col. Monroe, ARE being bargained for.
and will be sold to those who are will
ing to pay the dishonored price Is
there any doubt that most of the char
ters granted to private interests are
bought and paid for? Who dares place
a money estimate on the value of bribe
bought franchises? What representa-
tive body of citizens is calling a halt
to this robbery? What political party
is seriously pledged against it? What
is the pulpit doing in this crisis? The
time was when any one of the thouS-
and steals now consummated or in pro-
gress would arouse the country from
one end to another. In one of our ci-
ties the police department has openly
raised by assessment of it's members
a sum of money with which it proposes
to purchase the passage of bill grant
ing them shorter hours, and the fact
creates only slight comment 1t is
recognized that the demand of the men
is just, and that there is no way to
secure the passage of the bill other
than by bribing the Legislature. Laws
are for sale, and they have to pay the
price"
cts the same all over the world. ."
declared Postmaster Jenkins.
When did you return from a tour
of the world?" asked the irate colonel.
mo such disgraceful state of affairs
exists in any other nation-not even
China. Legislative bribery is almost
unknown in England or on the CONT
nent. No corporation would dream of
buying favors in such great cities as
London, Manchester, Birmingham or
y Glasgow. To be an alderman in these
cities is esteemed the highest of hon
ors. To be an alderman in the United
States is to be the fair target of sus-
picion. In the great European legisla-
lures debates pertain to affairs of state:
with us the usual topic is the demand
of some corporation or private interest
for new powers at the expense of the
people In the decision the lobby is
all powerful"
What is to be the end of all this ?"