The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-29


| ocean tho fight was waged against the evil
BRIBERY THR TREASON or PEACE
1T has not been very long since bribery
was looked upon a. somewhat conventional.
! Now Il isreRarded a. a crime akin 10 treason
/ the treason Of peace, more dangerous
. than the treason Of war. This sentiment
Is doing mere than anything else 20 put a
stop 70 the practice, for, after, all the remedy
| for corruption Il In the hearts Of the people.
The prisons might lie filed with corruption
lists. yet n the people are Indifferent, bribery
would go on just the same. They do'not
fear the penitentiary 10 much, they hope
TO escape that by some hook or crook or
technicality But they tremble a. they
hear the distant thunder Of outraged public
sentiment. They do not know good from
bad; all they know Is politics, but they do
know coed politics from bad politics. They
have been taught that boodlipg Is bad
politics in Missouri. When this lesson
shall have been taught here and every
where the problem Of the eradication Of
| corruption " Ill be near solution.
A few years ago the. story told at the
expense OF the Pennsylvania Legislature
fenciful story, Of course. applied prac-
tically 20 all General A 5semblies. A couple
married, as couples sometimes do. After
the wedding the bride seemed 20 be greatly
troubled, and said TO her husband
=" John, / have not treated you right
There Is something / should have told
you, but ! really did not have the heart
TO do IT, The truth is John my father
was once an inmate Of the Ohio peniten-
tiary. Now, John, don't think less Of me
for that. ! could not help it
Don't worry, MARY said John. i
have a confession to make 70 you that l
have delayed for fear Of your resentment.
My father was once a member Of the Penn
sylyania legislature
pense 4 the Missouri Legislature, Cor il Is
becoming once more an honor 20 be a mem
Der Of that body, not a disgrace. The
Missouri General Assembly just closed
presents the unique example 70 the, nation
Il a Legislature free from the evil Of the
railroad pass, and in which corruption
had no part No one was sandbagged
and every interest was treated as fairly
as they knew. A number Of reform bills
were Passed, some Of which would be worth
a CamIaign TO secure. This remarkable
condition and revolution in legislative
Affairs is the result Of the Missouri idea.
rILL THAT JAILED AND WHY IT DID.
AN the legislators were not above re-
preach by any means, but the lesson OF
hoodling icing bad politics was fresh in
the minds Of all. The conditioned Affairs
was yary well illusi rated by the fate OF the
bribery bill. We eled our Senators every
four years, so that this time only half
came fresh from the people or the hold
overs some were as good men as can be
found In the State. Two years ago it he
came NV QOlN. as prosecuting OllltT, 10 N
vestigate certain legislative wrongdoing.
As to having received money coruptly,
there were those among the follower
members OF the Senate who knew that |
knew a good deal about what had gone
before IL this situation, J. as Governor.
recommended the passG g Of the bill known
as the anti-bribery bill compelling VIII
nesses 10 bribery transactions "a testify,
and CyemUting them from prosecution.
This l. the same kind ~ law as your Jerome
gambling act and similar acts in many
States. Il would put a stop TO bribery,
BY removing the veil Of secrecy which has
always been a barrier 20 Justice.
The House pas sed the bill by q vote Of
100 TO /, When the hill came UP in the
Senate some did not understand Il and others
beon what they should in the old days were
willing toJAetGood for the future, hut did
not think il fair to delve into the past.
IL was proposed TO me that II the measure
were amended 20 as 10 only apply to the
future il would not be opposed; This
could not be done. So an onslaught was
made on the bill and l. was defeated. after
being denounced as Infamous and cruel,
calculated 10 destroy a mans reputation.
II did not occur 70 them II a man had not
taken bribes the bill would not affect him.
and n he had he was not In a position TO ask
that the law protect his reputation
And vet they could hardly be blamed.
One might have said 70 the other. as in
story told by Locke: Two fellows were in a
hold-over one night a policeman having
picked them uP. ior being drunk and DIS
One Of them was in that peculiar
stage Of drunkenness In which the victim
feels he IS abused
This is Infamous, he said. My reputa-
ton is lost
the other as he chung 20 the bars. Your
reputation is LOST There is nothing mean
about me, John take mine
They did practically everything asked
except this, but here they baked. This
measure was entirely too personal in it's
effect 10 get the votes Of some who went
along with the tide in the days when bribery
reigned. but the people will sec TO II that
those who are elected 70 the next Assembly
can vote for the bill without embarrassment.
I am satisfied that no act Of the General
Assembly was passed OF defeated by the use
Of money. After three years investigation
Of this subject and hearing the confessions
Of dozens Of boOdlers, and telling OF the
dealings Of their fellows in other States,
] do not believe as much can be said for but
few other Legislatures In the country.
WHAT THE MISSOURI IDEA MEANS.
The Missouri idea means the enforce
ment Of law and that II the law be bad the
remedy is 70 repeal not 20 ignore It. There
IL entirely too little respect for law in
America In every State we find laws a
nullity for policy's sake. Such thing Is
unknown in any other land. Disregard Of
one law breeds disrespect in all law. In
allowing some laws 20 60 unenforced we
reap harvest In having all laws broken.
The Law may not be 20 ones liking but TIE
answer, 1t Is the law should be sufficient
for the law abiding. Good men will observe
even bad laws, but bad men will break
even good laws. IL should be that all men,
good and bad be compelled 20 keep all law,
good and bad. because II Is the law.
But how careless people usually are as
TO whether laws arc enforced OF not. This
lethargy gives rise TO civic evils Indeed,
nearly all public wrongs grow out OF the in
difference Of the people. There are many
who thrill with patriotic feryor at the
thought Of going 20 war and risking their
lives for their country, but who forget to
vote on election day. The patriotism OF
peacc IL just as necessary az the patriotism
of war, Inc patriotism Of the ballot Is
even more necessary in a free country than
the patriotism Of tho bullet. Plenty Of men
viii die for their country, but the man who
will live for his city and State every day
is the man good government needs. There
4 a constant conflict between evil and good
and evil must always be fought against
else the good will be overcome, The useful
grain the farmer sows does not grow and
ripnn by chance, but must be cared for and
protected, while the thistle, scattered by
chance and cared for by accident. win
flourish anywhere. SO good government
does not exist by accident The seeds must
be sown and the plant nu -tured and de-
fanHaH alaa the yrnpda will TrOW nm and