The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-22

reached the proportions Of the great
national sin. The views on this subject
have been summed up in the Eagle by
Frederick Upton Adams, in the fol-
lowing article. which is a notable an
alysis Of graft" grating" and
''grafters"
Graft is the extorted profit from an
official representative position or en-
plOyment. Ii is the purchase price of
an unfair favor; an accepted bride in
consideration Of which the tender is
permitted 10 violate or evade a law.
Graft is money stolen in per6dy to
confidence repOsed in a representative
IL is the price Of official dishOnOr. It
is a dishonest perquisite. Graft is the
meanest and lowest form Of thievery.
The DickpOcket betrays no confidence.
and the cautious man can guard him
self against this nimble-h fingered species
Of thief. The burglar and highway
man risk their lives in their plumber
ings. They are open and avOwed enc
mics Of society, and boldly defy it's
laws and dare its penalties. They ask
no need Of respect from those they
would rob. They quarrel not that So
ciety brands them as criminals. The
forger operates against those who are
trained TO be on guard against his viz
lainy.
Compared to the CRATER, the pick
pocket. burglar highwayman, forger
and others who aim TO secure money
without returning a fair equivalent i'm
goods or service are deserving of some
degree Of respect. The CRATER deliber-
ately rObs those who have elevated him
10 place Of power or honor. Ignoring
that splendid instinct which impels a
gentleman to do more for his friends
than he would do for his own pleasure
or preferment, the CRATER plumbers
those who have given him the guard
ianship of then property or the
watching Of their interests The guest
who steals from the table of his host
the silver spoons which are placed by
his plate has I'm him the making of a
successful CRATER His crime though
mean. is small compared to the public
official who robs not one friend. but
an entire community of his fellow citi-
zens.
-
There are janitOrs who exact graft
from tenants and landlords: the street
laborer brides his way into his en-
plOyment and shirks his work: the
street railway conductor purchases the
influence which makes him a collector
OF fares. The confidence Of the street
railway corporation in its employees Is
evidenced by the fortunes expended in
cash registers and in the services Of
detectives and inspectors. The engi-
neer OF many a power plant TeckOns
as fair part Of his income the com
missions he receives on coal. oil and
everything purchased for his use. The
commercial traveller brides the trusted
representatives of his customers, and
there is a legend that some Of them
are not above exacting that item Of
graft which is concealed in a distorted
expense account The policeman buys
his place on the force and is disciplined
by removal to a precinct or district
a.
graft. The contractor blocks the pub
tic streets with building materials and
feels secure from the enforcement of
the law when he has briDed those
whose influence viii permit it's disre-
gard. BOotblacks and newsbOys pay
blood money Tor permission to ply their
trades on certain corners. Railroad
passes, issued to members of the
clergy. are found in the offices of
ticket scalpers." There is hardly an
occupation or a profession which does
not afford opportunity for that sys-
tematic thievery which goes by the
name of graft. The time has come
when graft is a recognized and con-
ventlonal factor I'm determining the
incomes Of those who profit thereby.
When a position is under consideration
the question is blandly asked. How
much is there IN &c outside Of the sal
ary2' The suspicion that an individ-
his Office or employment may become a
certainty without seriously menacing
his standing or reputation Society
frOwns only on the detected and ex-
posed CRATER, and has more of con-
tempt for his stupidity than of scorn
for his knavery. One oftener hears
remarks expressive of envy or of adj
miratiOn for the successful CRATER
than Of condemnation of his methods
It IS unreasonable to hope for the hon
est conduct of public affairs so long as
the business and professional CRATER
is looked on not with contempt but
with admiration. The tolerance eX-
tended TO the CRATER demonstrates the
existence Of A deplorably low public
moral tone.
Grating has become science: it is
the besetting sin of the American peo-
pie. In this world Of peculation there
are three distinct divisions, viz: Those
who receive the graft. those who ten
der the graft, and those who aspire To
be grafters. Allied with these is a
fourth class which. while not partici-
patiug in the proceeds, looks upon the
system, not with honest adherence
but as a trifing and necessary evil
There has been stealing in all ages
and as far back as we can look IN the
records Of nations we learn of mer
who have attained wealth and position
by taking merCenary advantage OF
places Of trust and honor. There have
been those who. like Walpole. defend
ed corruption as a conservative force
which tended to protect vested rights
Alexander Hamilton is on record fin a
speech delivered before the conven-
ton which framed the Constitution OF
the United States as endorsing in par
Walpole's position. and certain of his
critics claim that he made practice OF
his theory. Certain Il is that during
the seven desperate years when We
we're struggling for our national indie
pendence there were not wanting those
who in devious ways fattened on the
public revenues. Our soldier fore
athers went ragged and hungry be-
iause contractors and bribed officials
lad stolen the funds raised for the
upport Of the men who fought al
saratoga and Trenton. The frst act
" the regularly constituted congress
ihe refunding Of the public debt
'eeked Of speculation and corruption
But such instances are rare in the
sarly history of the nation. There IS
nothing TO show that the system OF
petty and wholesale official thievery
which now goes by the comprehensive
name Of graft had yet been estab-
lished. Tt was fashionable to be hon
est. When a man betrayed a public
trust he became an Outcast. III The
Benedict ArnOlds Of today in a city
OF the size of New York or Chicago
were to march I'm solid ranks past tn.
respective city halls. &c would take
them a long time 20 pass. and IL is q
go