The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-07-26
JuDaE.BREwER ON GRAFT


1nstic. David !. Brewer of the United
States supreme court delivered a short ad-
dress before large assemblage OF life in
surance agents in the Masonic building in
10 modern graft and praised President
Roosevelt in his efforts to make public at
fairs pure and honest. He said:
This has been year which may be
characterized as one of great insurance
upheaval. The result has been prejudi /
cial 10 the interests of a certain company
and also to the interests and business OF
others. believe there will result great
benefit reinsurance business throughout
the world. The moment private pecuni
airy gain is sought through the advantage
OF a trust someone is guilty Of grating For
instance, trusts funds are the funds of this
insurance company and this and tha;
bank and this and that trust company
We will take these trust funds put our
assets in their place and let the insurance
company carry them until we can sell
them with a profit. The company takes
a risk of carrying them until such time
a, they can sell the assets, the insurance
company may be able to pay lis interests
in full as it has been doing heretofore,
but the men have not fulfilled their.
trust with an eye single to the company's
eneht. They have sought to make these
+ lnds inure to their private gain and cast
upon the company the risk, great or small
OF that speculation. Why, do you suppose
for moment that Mr. Ryan paid So SO.
900 for property which under no legal cir
] cumstances could pay him more than 3 OF
per cent interest. with the idea that all
he could get would be this interest? There
may be such philanthropists. but they are
not connected with insurance companies
5 Public Office Public Trust.
There was never a truer saying than
that by Grover Cleveland, that public
Office is public trust. There is today sc
much grating going on among public
officials as to startle u.s. am not speak
ing now about the coarser kind of graft
ing, such as buying votes, paying money
etc which we all condemn. ! have re
ference tic the more insidnous ways tina
the one holding pubic Office with an eye
single to his trust prostit uting in ont
, way or another that Office for his own gan
or the gain OF his friends
Take the president of the United States
Along last winter. San Domingo put it
y self on financial footing Suppose TIT
/. president had acted secretly and advised
5 his friendsIto buy up San domingo bonds
: Would not that shock the people OF the
= country? Yet the government would lost
= nothing and some would be private gain
ers. Suppose the Uuited States supreme
! court justices would give out Information
in advance OF certain decisions? Wouldn,
I YOU revolt at such transaction 1t would
be upworthy-ths would be grating.
A month ago today ! was in Tennessee
/ went to the Hermitage where lie the re
mains of Andrew Jackson. and thanl
God today that there was an other equally
honest president, and it seems as if
+ could hear falling from the lips at Thee
dore Roosevelt the words, public affair
must and shall be pure and honest" Mt
president can do all this. 1t requires no
:, merely actions OF officials of the govern
= ment but acton of everyone thatlhe admin
: istration of public affairs pure and honest
c He concluded by saying:
j. The great body of the citizens are loya
!. to the great work of building up the natic
II and the Almighty will help US, and tina
!, he. will help us ! do believe an
" that we shall be true to the tradition
y OF our fathers, equally believe.