Amador ledger., 1904-10-21
THE GRAFT SYSTEM.

Graft is term used in connection
with our political system to desig-
nate a species of dishonesty, which
while perhaps not a violation of the
law, is nevertheless contrary to its
spirit and subversive of good gov
ernment, Every kind of extrav-
agance, every method of drawing
money from the public treasury be-
yond the requirements of an efficient
and economical administration of
affairs, is included in graft It is
a matter for serious thought how
extensively our political system is
permeated with graft. We find
candidates for national, state and
district offices making their canvass
mainly, and almost solely, on prom
ises to extract money from the pub
lie treasury for this or that improve
ment in their respective districts.
Their ability in this respect is made
the touchstone of their fitness for
the positions sought. The one who
is credited with being able to secure
the largest appropriations for his
particular district is looked upon as
the right man to elect. At any
rate the drift of political currents is
strongly in that direction. II cuts
no material figure whether the ap-
preparations asked for are absolutely
or urgently needed or not; if the
official is able to get them he is
deemed all right. We are confront
ed with a candidate for congress
touring the first district at the pres
ent time, and appealing for votes on
the strength of getting government
aid for the building of restraining
dams for hydraulic mining interests;
also for federal money for universi-
ties, high schools, and other educa-
tional institutions. This is sort of
clap-trap, intended to catch the un-
wary voter. The truth is recog-
nized that individuals concerned are
unable to sustain the cost of such
things; that the state is also UNEQUAL
to meet the expense on the scale of
magnitude aimed at, and hence the
burden is shifted to the national
treasury, for no other reason than
because of its much larger resources
to endure the strain. They do not
stop to consider that if all other
candidates were making the same
kind of promises, and carried them
into practice, the federal treasury
would be no more able to endure the
strain than is our county treasury to
pave all our streets and highways
with gold. 1t is a safe criterion for
a voters guidance that candidate
whether for national, state or
county office-who is lavish with
promises of scattering appropria-
tions broadcast before his con-
stitutents is the right kind of man
to elect to stay at home. Ten to
one, he does not shine to advantage
in the administration of the small
affairs of every day life.
But to return to the question of
graft. Every project to secure big
pay for little work, to foist sinecure
offices upon the people, to boost
salaries to secure the influence of
the classes concerned, to over charge
for services because the public
treasury can stand it, to try to shift
the burden from the smaller to the
larger treasury, because of it's su-
perior capacity to bear the cost; all
these tricks of the politician are in
cluded in the all-comprehensive e
word graft. 1t has attained start
ling proportions; it is still marching
on to conquer. 1t is not confined to
one party, but to all parties. To
arrest its progress is one of the
grave problems that faces our
county to-day.