Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-04-20
y POLITICS aaaa
~ --= OF THE DAY |
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Admiui.tration scaudals.

6060G6666A
Administrations Scandals.
The present administration has been
very unfortunate with the large num-
Der of scandals that have been ex-
posed in the executive departments and
the extent to which the grafters had
succeeded in footing the government
Golfers before any effort was made to
stop, or punish them. The attempt
made by the administration to prevent
the exposure Of these scandals, fear
ing that thorough investigation
would inJure the Republican party
and throw cloud over the political
fortunes of Presldent Roosevelt was
failure. Scandals, like murder, will
out. Postmaster General Payne de-
clared there was nothing wrong In the
Postoffice Department and designated
the Tulloch charges as "hot air." but
the evidence Of the extent Of the loot
ing became SO apparent that partial
investigation followed. The number of
officials involved has not vet been
given to the public and the Brlstow
report on the Charges against Con-
gtessmen," has been used to minimize
the Department wrongdolnSs.
In addition to the postofYice scan
dals there are others In other depart.
nents that involve even much great
er amount of looting. The Interior
Department is honeycombed with land
frauds. The Indian Bureau and the
Dawes Commission are both under
suspicion of grave mlsdoings that are
attempted to be hushed up and only
an impartial investigation sifr dis
cover how great the grating has been.
The officials appointed by President
Roosevelt for Indian Territory appear
to have been the worst political graft
crs he could have discovered to nd
vance the civilization Of the wards of
the Nation. What the exact situation
In the Interior Department is, 1t is diff
ficult to say, for there is an evident
effort to suppress all the evidence of
the operations of the land ring in the
Indian Territory and the names of
those implicated, or who have been
asked to resign, or have been dismiss
ed are unobtainable. Mum is the word
Mt the Interior Department.
The Western land frauds have been.
of enormous extent, yet but four per-
sons have been indicted. There is,
however, evidence that numerous 9TH
crs, including Republican members Of
Congress, are being shielded for politl-
cal purposes.
Those charges which involve Con-
gressmen and others have not been in
vestigated, or il they have Secretary
Hitchcock has maintained consor-
ship that the newspapers have been
unable to overcome.
The fencing of the public domain in
Nebraska and other States by the
great cattle barons, which Colonel
Mostly was sent to investigate, has
been dropped at the urgent request, it
is stated, of the Republican delegation
in Congress from that State, who fear
| its effect on the coming elections
Many settlers are anxious to go on
these public lands and acquire home
steads, but are unable to do SO from
fear of the armed partisans of the cat-
tie barons.
/ Their there is the ''seed scandal: In
the Agricultural Department and the
charge that the statistics of crop re.
ports have been used for the benefit
| of sDeculatOrs at the expense of the
| farmers.
The army glove scandal, which in
wolves Congressman Littauer, .'the
close friend and political advisor" OF
President Roosevelt, has been con-
veniently hushed up by the War De-
partment. A late number Of the Civil
Engineers Journal charges gigantic
maximite powder fraud In the same
department. The looting and grating
in the Philippines has never been In
vestigated.
The smuggling scandals In Porto
Rico, which involved officers OF the
army, navy and civil service, in which
indictments were found, were ordered
discontinued by Attorney General
Knox under orders from the Presi.
dent.
The Navy Department scandals,
brought out in the evidence connect
ing Rear Admiral Bowles with the
Shipynrd Trust, which compelled him
to resign. The evidence that the de.
fectIve guns Of the Iowa were forged
from steel which had been rejected by
the inspectors, all require an impair.
tial investigation.
The Treasu!. .Artment, IL in
vesHgated. would unearth many scan
dals besides the silk frauds, which are
being prosecuted in New York, includ
ing the Ellis Island scandal, the con
test between Judge Somerville and
Secretary Shaw over the apprais.nl
scandals would air several peculiar
conditions that would reflect on Secre
tary Shaw II the matters were aired
Tint the Secretary has favored the
Wall street bankers in his dealings
with the banks is notorious, and in nc
ceptng security for government de
posts other than government bonds
he exceeded the authority given hin
by the law. H.
Many other scandals with which .hi:
strenuous administration Is smircfed
might be cited, but enough has beer
mentioned to substantiate the Demo
cratic demand that 1t is time to "Turr
the rascals out"
Il - Why This Peevish Haste? S
President Roosevelt has ordered
Congress to disband. Congress does
not usually adjourn the long session
until after midsummer, but the Repub
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