Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-10-18
WHY IS TT

Many people are asking for reason
for this flood Of dishonesty and graft in
public officials which has been sweeping
over the country. There are all sorts Of
theories put forth as an answer, but the
most satisfactory one of all is that stat
ed by J. Edward Simmons, President Of
the Fourth National Bank of New York.
In an address before the Maryland Bank
ers' association he charged this wide
spread dishonesty to the Indifference ard
consequent palliation of the great mass
of people. In word, the great mass of
people are disposed to look with indul'
gerce upon such ofenses providing a
man can make money by it.
We once heard cAeesemaker describ-
ing how he caught several farmers wat
ering their milk. The effect of such ras-
cality was to rob every other farmer
who was a patron of the factory. Yet
he found the rest of them opposed to
the prosecution Of the offenders When
we asked him why they were opposed to
such prosecution he said they gave no
reasonable excuse, rut he believed that
many Of them, eDougH to make body
Of opinion. did not want the practice
broken up They were waiting for a
chance to 60 the same thing They had
such low standard Of Business moral
ty in their minds that they were ready
to excuse any form Of dishonesty pro-
vided only that "a man can make mon
81 by Il.
We could hardly accept his theory,
although in certain instances 1t might
be true.
However, we think it cannot b. denied
that sin ce the late Civil War there has
been such mad craze to mako money,
to acquire riches, and the quicker the
bstLer, that it has resulted in breaking
down the average honesty of the mass
es.
When men feel no particular indigna-
ton concerning the course of CRATER,
or they say as did one supposedly re-
spectacle man in this city not long since
in reference to the stealings of Frank
Bigelow, the Milwaukee banker, Well,
/ think the only mistake Bigelow made
was that he did not take more What
can we think The question is, how
many men really think as does this
man2 What sort Of a public sentiment
against stealing will community have |
if it is composed largely of such men
We have the shameless spectacle in Mil |
waukee today of newspaper like the
Sentinel, followed by portion Of the
other papers, all sneering and belittling !
the grand jury and district attorney for
their action in bringing indictment |
against certain men who have been buy
ing and selling the honor of the city as
though it was 80 much beef or pork.
And Mayor Rose instead of standing |
up like an honest man, and as an honest |
public official would do, in support Of |
this effort to put down graft, INDUCES
In sneering criticisms against the grand |
jury, but not a word says he against the |
criminals.
And behind the newspapers who are
defenders OF public rascality in fact, and
Mayor Rose, are body of citizens who
feel no interest whatever in such prose
cutions
What shall we call such state of
public sentiment in real fact, but spir- |
1t of justification of theiveryf The pub
lie heart has been fairly honey -combed |
by the spirit Of dishonest greed. Hence
the shameless spectacle we see of this |
of villiany in high places -
Governor Hoard in jefferson County |
Union.