The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1904-09-16
THE GREAT ISSUE.

The great issue in this campaigrris
honest administration. That is a
point on which the people long ago
made up their minds, and it is not
likely to be obscured by anything
else that may be brought forward for
discussion. -
This feature Of the great political
contest will be emphasized III the
minds of all readers who shall have
an opportunity to see an article IN
the September number of Mcclure S
by William Allen White on the scan-
dals., In that article Mr. White
brings out the character of those
scandals in striking manner, More
striking still is his presentation Of the
subserviency of a great part OF the
membership Of congress to the graft
and the passive approval given it by
a large proportion Of public men not
in congress.
The proportions Of the graft and
the boldness Of the grafters are set
forth in such manner that none can
fail to understand exactly what kind
Of a problem it was with which the
government was called upon to deal,
Moreover, none can fail 10 see how
dulled the Washington conscience
had become to corruption in high
places. Mr.. White brings it all cut
i'll strong colors, and the reader who
may not have followed the details Ct
the disclosures at the time will be
surprised to learn what was unearth-
ed by those who made the investiga-
| ton.
As stated, the most startling-the
most alarming-fcature OF the story
thus told by Mr.. White is the man.
ner in which public men in and out
Of congress prohted by the graft, d.
rectly or indirectly, and then sought
to shield the grafters. Congressmer
became satisfied there was theft going
on and proceeded ton,'make use o.
their knowledge Men like Macher
and Beavers could grant many favors
to congressman, and when they hac
reason to expect that congressiona,
applicants for favors guessed theil
secret, they were disposed to grant
everything that was asked. Extrava.
giant allowances we're thus wrune
from the department by congress,
men, members practically placing
themselves on a plane with the
thieves. 1t was easy for member
to get additionalclerks for postofice:
and to secure raises of salaries fol
employees. The culprits within tht
department knew they were suspect
ed and took pains to see that sus
pecting members willing to trade up
on their knowledge were not denieo
anything.
incidentally Mr.. White scores ths
great army of members of the house
who rose in assumedly righteous in
dlgnation over the report of Mr.
Bristow in which he gave the name.
OF members who had secured incrcas
cd allowances in their districts. i
will be remembered how that repor
was greeted with howl of protest II
the house, and how the bowler,
quoted down when the absurdity, i
not the criminality, Of the position O
many of them was made manifest.
knowledge of the corruption If
the department had been quite com.
mon in certain circles for a long time
before the explosion came; but wher
runors came to the ears of the presi.
dent there was an instant change
There was no longer any organized
effort in the department to cover i,
up. The light was turned on, anc
no influence was sufficiently power.
tul to procure the suppression of E
single fact or the immunity of a sin.
gle culprit Public men urged the
president to hush it up, and members
OF congress rushed to the White
House to defend the thieves. Mer
who had made themselves parties r.
the crimes, by seeking and accept.
ing tavors to which they were not en-.
titled, actually sought to induce tn,