The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-04-03
GRAFT" AND BUSINESS.

For many months Lincoln Sterens
| has been studying graft" and hood
ling in various American cities, and
his observations and conclusions have
been set forth in a series of magazine
articles. AS a sort of summing-up Mr.
Steffens has an article in the April
McClure's under the title, Enemies
of the Republic" In this he seeks to
show that political corruption in this
country is system, regularly es-
tablished custom of the country, by
which our political leaders are hired,
by bribery or license to loot, and by
quiet moral support, to conduct the
government of city, state and nation
mot for the common good. but for
the special interests of private bust
ness" From that premise he de-
duces that it is mot the politician, not
the bribe-taker, but the bribe-giver,"
that is the source of American bad
| government.
At almost every point, Mr.. Steffens
asserts, when he has been following
the trail of corruption in politics it
has led him "out of politics and into
business, and out of the cities into the
state" Some of the great captains of
industry, the business men of whom
their communities are proud, have
| found the highway of corruption" to
be the road to success. When expos
ure overtakes the political CRATER who
has accepted brides, he goes out in
| disgrace, while the man who has cor
rupted him continues to hold his head
| high and is excused on the ground
! that "business is business" There
can be no bribery unless somebody
| furnishes the money. Boodlers are
bound to fly in pairs; wherever there
| is bribe-taker there must be a bribe-
! giver and the latter always expects
to reap large profits where he has sown
Doodle. The franchises that are OBJ
tanned through municipal councils or
Legislatures by corrupt methods are
| invariably for the benefit of business
men who form corporations for the
exploiting of the franchises. Mr.. Stef-
fens concludes that the trust magnate,
! the captain of industry, is the man
to catch. His is the trail to follow"
There is no doubt enough of truth
i'm the position taken by Mr.. Steffens
to justify the writing and publication
of his article. 1t will not be disputed
that in the business methods of some
men and corporations there are prac-
tices that are corrupt and in violation
| of every principle of honesty and fair
dealing. But is this spirit of corrupt
| commercialism so widespread as Mr..
Steffens would have us believe? We
prefer to think otherwise, and that the
vast majority of business men are
actuated in their dealings by the de-
sire and purpose to preserve genuine
integrity and honor. 1t doubtless Of
| ten occurs, however, that a business
man starting out with the best re-
solves to conduct his affairs on a high
and honorable plane finds himself be-
set, handicapped and seriously embar-
raised by the Vaccinations of political
boodlers and grafters who lay traps
for him, propose legislation against him
| and otherwise annoy him until he finds
| that his very business existence de-
Ponds upon salving their itching palms.
| Does the corruption spring from the
business man in such instances?
1t will be admitted, however, that
there is too much corruption in pub
lie life. 1t has no single source. 1t
is hydra-headed. To combat it the
efforts of all good citizens should be
devoted to creating a healthier pub
lie sentiment and higher standard
of the general moral sense.