The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-07-15
RorrENNEss IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

RoTrENNEss IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
 While the doctors and the scientists are searching out and discovering new and dangerous microbes no one has yet differentiated the microbs ot graft so that preventive or cure may be found. It is the most hurtful member of the germ family. because 1t finds its way into every department of industry and business, into the trades and the pro- fessions. and into high and low places in our ohicial life.
 Never in the history of our Govern ment has there been known such perfect saturnalia of corruption as we have had within the past few years. whether 1t is the fault or misfortune of the party in power will be decided according to the point of view of, those who study the question The recent exposure of corruption and rascality in the Agricultural Department Is but one of many. We have had like expo sures in the Land Department. in the consular service, in the War and Navy Departments, in the railroad service. and. in fact. there is hardly any branch of the public service without its specific rottenness and villainy.
 Are the American people losing all regard for civic and official honesty? Has the microbe of graft become so firmly anchored in the body polite that there is no hope of suppressing or dislodging 1t? It really begins to look that way. We hear much from the President and the members of his off, ncial family about civic honesty and the like, and we may assume that the sneakers are honest and sincere, but If we do are we not compelled to admit that they are impotent? If the admin istration is earnest in its denunciation of dishonesty can we avoid the con- clusion that it Is practically powerless! Can we look on the action of Roosevelt in the cases of Bowen and Loomis and Byrne and others we might name and truthfully say that he has not encour- aged crookedness in oficial life? When he not only refuses to punish an of1- cial friend who has gone wrong. but actually heaps greater honors on him. are we justified in assuming that our President is a foe to oficial crooked ness? A recent editorial in Golfers Weekly speaks of the President as honest and useful, but adds this warm comment:
 Public corruption in this country. is founded largely on easy standards be- tween friends. Mir Roosevelt scolds corruption, but he heaps honor on a man who. as our Minister to vene1ae1a; s,u;In. sePain.t sesin.a'esHh the Venezueian clan Government. Why? He likes the man. Very likely Loomis may have told him he .. vas the iy Loonis Is for the navy Any can did railroad man in America, however much he might like the frank and manly no fe tbs te of rebates. Yet to protect his friend, dent. Mir Rooseelt destroys the powers lent and stupid allegation that there is no shred of evidence. The President loves fattery. He is no judge of men; Ihey n hs mind snd honest censure is beyond his grasp. In. a great crisis. like the Civil War, he would have flied armies. diplomatic
  ond-ciass men. and the difference then would have meant more than happily 1t does today.
 That may be a severe criticism, but Is it unjust? If the President refuses to allow men to be punished because they are his friends. then all his lec- lures and protestations so for noth- ing, because example Is more powerful than precept. and If a crooked official escapes punishment because he Is friend of the President other friends will feel 1t safe to indulge in like practices If they are so disposed.
 But this epidemic of venality and corruption is by no means confined to ofiicialdom. The Equitable scandal is only a sample on 8 large scale of what Is taking place all over the country, particularly in the large cities of the North and West. All kinds of get rich-quick swindiing schemes are in operation to part confding men and women from their money. From the big Equitable down to the penny-in in- the-slot machines, swindlers. grafters and confidence men are on the make. As the official and political rascality goes almost from the foot of the throne down through all grades and branches of oficialdom, so the swindlers in the business world are of all grades from the lowest round of the ladder to the highest. Can 1t be that the political and official dishonesty now so preva- lent Is responsible for like deplorable conditions outside public affairs?