The Washington times., 1905-11-15
The Black Flag Raised.

The sweet pervasiveness of graft,
that fertilizes all the barren fields
of business ana politics. has had no
illustration like that furnished yes
terday in New York. when James
Hazen Hyde testified before the
Armstrong Investigating Committee.
To the revelations he made, one
word of description Is being appiiiitstii
Amazing" The description is ac-
curate and deserved.
There have been disclosures before,
sufficiently startling, sufficiently re-
pulsive, sufficiently suggestive of how
thoroughly the masters cf frenzied
finance and frenzied politics forget
or scorn the elemental decencies of
life and the elemental honesties of
the law. 1t was reserved for Mr.. Hyde
to inform US that the governor and
boss of the first State in the nation
was willing to use the power of the
peoples trust to sandbag a reluctant
corporation into the settlement Of
a personal action at law.
Benjamin B. Odell. jr., governor Of
New York, purchased in 1908, $780,
600 in value OF the bonds OF the
United States Shipbuilding Company.
A slump in the value of these bonds
was followed by suit by Governor
Odell against the Mercantile Trust
Company. handling the transaction.
to recover losses he had sustained.
While the suit was pending Senator
Amber introduced in the State SEN
ate a bill to repeal the law under
which the Mercantile Trust is char
tered. It was referred to the senate
judiciary committee. Upon payment
of S75, 900, Governor Odell settled the
suit he had brought. The bill to
abolish the charter Of the Mercantile
Trust slumbered in committee and
never raised its head.
These facts are known of men.
Testifying yesterday Mr.. Hyde said
z. H. Hartman. close business and
political friend Of the governor, sug.
gested to the witness that the OdeI
suit had best be settled, becaus,
that powerful influence at AIban,
was antagonistic, on account Of tt1ii q i
shipbuilding matter, and there was ;
possibility OF harm 20 one Of the
valuable assets Of the Equitable
which was the Mercantile Trust
AS a result Of this suggestion, coming
from Mr.. Hartman and concerning
the probable action of Governor
Odell, 1000 was paid the governor
and the suit was withdrawn. Thi.
is Mr.. Hyde's statement. It is in.
teresting 10 observe the governor
still retained the bonds and disposed
Of them afterward for a considerabI,
sum.
AS to the facts IN this case, it Il
well to suspend Judgment. Mr.. Hyd.
makes the charge and Mr.. Odell de
nies it. There, for a time, it vii
rest. But it is proper now to conside
the hideous gravity of the offens,
and for the people TO insist tn
charge shall be probed to its faa
petty rogueries OF petty off1cehold
ers, whose activities are of a profes
sional dignity akin to that of pick
pockets and sneak thieves. But whel
those high in power desert their dut.
OF truth and honor and fly the blacl
flag Of graft at the peak Of the shi
OF state. surely, surely. It is time Z
cry a halt
To our thinking, the day Of reckon
ing has come. This IS not to pre-
Judge the issue raised between MI
Hyde and Mr.. Odell, but to insist
with all possible earnestness, that
be brought TO trial. Let there be n
evasion OF its solemn import and tn
menace to the nations welfare
entails If our governors are be
come political freebooters, levyin
tribute where they will. then, ceI
tainly republican Institutions nav
begun their decline