The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1905-02-26
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:: = Cham % .Clark'S
of Harmony In Repub-
- Ranks-Senate STANDS
~ HE% Dssnity-The Wave of
~ 81 ~ Political rm-CeEceEH
H-o W" " ~ Leaders
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No more can it be disputed that
moral wave Of cyclonic power is sweep
ing over the land at the present time.
The exact time or place of its begin
ming cannot lie fxel with anything APP
proximatng cNactness. Neither can
the person be named who started IT.
The truth seems to be that it was /;
case of many minds with but one
thought and one desire-the puriflca-
ton of politics and of legislation. 1t
has been confined to no locality, to no
party and to no branch of the public
service a Republican president OF
the United States has lent hand. So
has the present Democratic governor
of Missouri. SO has u Democratic
mayor OF Chicago. SO have the RepuD-
lican authorities of Minneapolis. A
chief of the greatest division in the
postoffice department and his parti-
ceps criminis are in felons' cells. Sen
ator Burton of Kansas was convicted
Of a grave misdemeanor. His case was
revived and remanded. He now awaits
a new trial Senator Mitchell and the
two representatives from Oregon, to-
gether with horde Of smaller officials
from that state, are under indictment.
A mayor Of one of the Twin Cities of
Minnesota was convicted Of a felony.
While circuit attorney of st. Louis
Governor Folk sent several officials to
the penitentiary. Bigwigs are being
T,l 10 II,
Senator Dubois promises startling rev.
Citations of the fraudulent perform
ances of federal officers. in Idaho if he
may be permitted to lift the lid. A
reformer in Illinois who could not
prove what he said about wholesale
corruption in the legislature has been
expelled from that body. There is
much talk of corruption in Kansas,
and in that state there is an agitation
on to enact a statute making the So
Letting of bribe penal offense be-
cause the Kansas supreme court has
just decided that soliciting bride is
not a crime under any law now exist
ing.
The New York Bar association is now
considering charges against a high ju-
dicial officer of that state. Congress is
now engaged in impeaching Judge
Charles Swayne Of Florida for high
crimes and misdemeanors. Half Of the
state legislatures are incubating Sc
yerer laws on the subject of bribery
and boodling. The retiring governor Of
Indiana in his valedictory address de-
scribed a condition of election corrup-
ton in Hoosierdem which is almost in
credible in the blazing light Of the
opening years of the new century. Even
in Philadelphia there are signs Of polit-
ical regeneration. There appears to be
general shaking up all along the line
except in Delaware. In that little state
smells to beaven, with no sign of abatc-
ment. All these efforts at reform in ma
tional, state and municipal affairs work
together for good. Some mistakes may
be made. Some innocent persons may be
wrongfully charged with offenses, but
If SO their innocence will be made to ap-
pear. Everywhere the people are show
ing a determination to put an end to
corrupt practices in elections and in
legislation. When the public conscience
is thoroughly aroused it can work won
ders, and it is becoming thoroughly
aroused In 1.-The good old days" Of
which We hear so much sometimes
more than 100000 was expended in
purchasing single seat i'll parliament,
but ii recent times a member was eX-
PEELED from the house of commons be-
cause during his canvass he had paid
!. for i, dinner for a voter. The world
seems to be growing better despite the
! howl of the pessimists. CT course it has
not reached perfection yet. II it had
there would be no room for reforms
and reforniers. But the reform agita-
ton now shaking the land will help, let
us hope, to shove it on toward ultimate
perfection. which is the millennium.