The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-12-01
IT'S THE FIGHT THAT'S NEW.

I'D I11E II lCI1 Liza - ANG W.
The word graft" has made its place
in the language of this country in
connection with politics and business,
in the sense of an ilIegitimate gain
secured by person through a position
of service, political or otherwise Its
older and more prosaic meaning has
almost been forgotten because of the
prominence into which it has come in
it's new one. Graft in Congress-
graft in other government positions,
graft in State affairs, graft in bust
ness-the word is constantly before
the eye. 1t just fits in its new place.
There are people who make claim
that this country is going to the dogs.
They bring forward to prove them
selves right this very matter of
graft and the agitation and turmoil
there is over it throughout the coun-
try. They argue that graft is some.
thing new, that, because it IS one OF
the popular problems of the day and
in former days was comparatively lit
tie heard of, the thing itself-graft
as it is now called-is likewise of re-
cent origin,
The man who makes such a claim
is either blinded or is not well in
formed in the history of the world.
For some reason he knows not the side
lights that are thrown on the charac-
ters of the past by close scrutiny.
Graft. itself, is not new. The fight
against it is the new thing. Until
recently grating was taken as mat
ter of course. In the days of old nc
effort was made to hide it. Might
was right and those in power took of
( the tat of the land for themselves
with only their power for iustifica-
tiop. Civilization moved on and
ideas of equality of men crept in.
The rulers and Office holders became
men among men. Then they grew
more cautious in their methods and
instead of Haunting their thievery and
plundering in the eyes of the people
they resorted to cover for their acts.
They got the Doodle just the same.
Civilization continued to move on
and the people grew more and more
watchful of their public servants.
Crooks were turned out of office occa
sionally. Then-and it was not long
ago-they went a step farther and
demanded that grating must cease.
Feeble efforts to stop it were made at
first, but experience taught ways and
means until today organized and per-
! sistent effort is being made to clean
public office of graft 1t is not that
j, it has never been there before but
that there has never been real war
made against it that has brought it go
much into prominence, until recently. G
Not all office holders tody area
grafters. Far from it! The great
majority are honest men The dis
honest have been put in the fore
ground, however. of late People are
growing moro insistent of their
rights. Peculations of officials and
their shady transactions on the side
are moe closely looked after,
We mont hos the fever for the graft
hunt and her Legislators have taken it
upon themselves TO give the officials
of the Sta.e an overhauling 10 see
whether their pockets have been filled
with money which aid not belong to
them. Whatever the result it Will
prove nothing either in favor of or
against the present officials as COM
pared with those of the past. Ver-
munt has had a reputation for produc-
ing clean, honest men for public office
and she demands that no faint shall
be put upon them now unless for
cause. If rogue or two be found
among the scores of men who undergo
the scrutiny it will not be any matter
for wonderment. 1t wonld be sur
prising if all the officials of Vermont
were honest. The golden age of vir
tue is not yet here, though it is near
er here than it was few centuries
ago