Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1905-06-14


ETH n has created more than ordinary
| ESSS~A interest. For some time there
S~SSG&SSo have been rumors Of more or less
juggling in this department, and as result there
have been complaints from a good many sources
which would be affected by irregularities along this
line. While the reports do not state it, there are
pretty good reasons to believe that information of
this kind if furnished in advance had distinct
object in view-tbat Of influencing the cotton and
other markets which are more or less sensitive to
official reports from the agricultural department.
Already secret service men are making investiga-
tiOns with view to placing responsibility for the
Ohense II such has been committed, and the cTcum-
stances so far look suspicious to say the least. A
number of firms in the larger cities are said to be
more or less involved It will be several days be-
fore complete report can be made setting forth the
result of the inquiries.
The charges should be probed to the bottom. If
the agricultural department has among its working
force men who accept money or ether consideration
for furnishing to stock brokers and others advance
information on government reports, or who would
doctor the government reports in order to influence
the markets and thereby enable spectators to take
an unfair advantage Of the public, the whole ugly
business should be exposed and the guilty parties
severely punished II this sort Of thing is known to
be carried on In the agricultural department that
institution will soon be disTepute, and the public
will have no confidence in it. Furthermore the de-
partment would thus be the cause OF great injustice
/ to the public.
The American people have already reached the
point where they are not surprised at any time to
leaIa 81 graft IL the departments at Washington.
The Thing appears to be something Of a habit. The
post0fCe frauds are still fresh il the public mind.
The extensive land frauds still under investsa.
ton, while number Of member Of thes Senate and
the House are under Indictment for serious offences.
The result Of the BOwen-LOOmis investigation is now
being awaited with. interest and this involves
charges OF graft in the diplomatic service. The
Swayne investigation and the attempted mileage
grab are still fresh in the memory of the public.
Ontop Of all these comes the charge OF graft in the
agricultural department It is not strange that the
EeOple Will wonder what to expect next especially
III view Of the wide spread impression based upon
more or less reasonable grounds that reason Why
it Is proving such an uphill Job to get through any
legislation providing for fair railroad tariffs and The
abolition OF the rebate and other evils is that no
small proportion of the United States Senate is
identhed in some way other interests allied with
the railroads, and consequently look at the question
/ th rough railroad spectaces.
The last lev years have Witnessed the exposure
Of large amount Of graft practiced in the federal
government Conditions appear to be worse ia this
respect than before It may be that the steadi
" increasing public sentiment against graft in pub
lic Office has forced investigation which would have
otherwise been conducted at all in secret and the
result not made known to the public Let the wark
Of Investigation go straight ahead, and let the graf
ers be brought to Justice The people are in earnest
in their effort 10 abolish this miserable practice and
thes are determined to have their public affairs con
Quoted with honesty and decency. One OF the most
effective ways to accomplish this is to expose and
punish the grafters as an example. Every time a
CRATER is sentenced to penitentiary bis experience
serves as strong warning to bis fellow craftsmen.
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