The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-01-30
POLITICAL GRAFTERS.

POLITICAL GRAFTERS.
This country is certainly the prom
Used land for the political grafters.
The prevalence of this species of crime
is chargeable directly to the people
themselves. A dulled public consci-
ence is the cause. Larceny by public
officials is on the increase. There was
a time when this kind of thievery was
treated with more concern and stern
err punishment meted than in ordinary
cases of larceny. Not so now. We
have an especial code for political
grafters different from that applied to
ordinary hold-up men. Public officials
who directly or indirectly put their
hand into the public treasury and steal
that which belongs to the whole people
are treated with consideration. The
case of eX-Congressman briggs, re-
Gently convicted of looting the treas
ury while he was a representative in
congress, shows the ridiculous atti-
tude of our courts in this class of cas-
es. briggs was either innocent or
guilty. He pleaded ignorance Of the
law which forbids members of con-
gress to be a party to a contract for
furnishing goods to the government.
Ignorance of the law excuses no one
and yet an intelligent man occupying
a commanding position among his fell
low men has but to say, Il meant no
wrong and did not know was trans
crossing" and Immediately the court
expresses regret that the law allowed
no alternative but Jail sentence. The
court then sentenced this high offender
to Jail for one day. The prisoner
visited the Jail, received his friends,
played chess, and when evening came
walked out without having taken Il
meal or changed his clothes in Jail.
No doubt the court has since more
fully apologized to the defendant for
the rigor of the law which left him
no alternative but to give a Jail
sentence Such a proceeding is ridicul-
Gus. 1t is no punishment to the Offend
err. He is put to no bodily inconveni-
ence or discomfort. Instead of being
disgraced, he is placed in the light of
one to whom an injustice has been
done. Congressman Littauer, another
defrauder of the government, escapes
because the statute of limitations has
run against his offense Senator Diet
rich, of Nebraska, escapes prosecution
for the selling of government posi-
tons OH the ground that when he sold
the jobs lie was not Il public officer.
Now Senator Burton, of Kansas, is
under Indictment and it remains to be
seen how he will escape. But he will
escape. State Senator Green, of New
York, is under Indictment for defraud-
ing the United States in government
contracts. Green is an important cog
in the Republican organization in that
state and will no doubt escape. When
he was indicted he resigned his posi-
tion as chairman of Republican
committee because he did not wish, as
he stated, to have the Republican par
ty suffer because of his connection
with its committee. He did not, how
ever, resign his office of state senator.
His regard for the office he held did
not affect him at all, but the great
Republican party must not be even
suspected of containing such Il men,
ber 1t looks as though the best plat
form which the Democrats could adopt
at st. Louis next year would be turn
the rascals out" Yet it is doubtful
whether in the present state of THE
public conscience any impression can
be made upon the voters. They ap-
pear unconcerned about these public
scandals and just that state of affairs
is the worst part of the situation.
The public have grown curiously care
less about the public conduct of it's
servants. Widespread and brazen dis
honesty in public life has created a
general disregard among the people.
The one acts upon the other to aug
ment the difficulty and unless there is
general awakening of the public
conscious things will go from bad to
worse. 1t will be remembered that
six years ago Marcus A. Hanna then
and now the most powerful parsonage
in the Republican party was elected
after long contest to the United States
senate by close vote. 1t was publicly
charged that the election was bought.
The charge was carried to the United
States senate and laid before COM
mittee. This committee found that
there had been money used with GER
tain members Of the Ohio legislature
hut that II Ind nOt hoon nrnvon tho