Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-02-24
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cIark'S y
Lack Of Harmony In Rcpub- a.
llcan Ranks-Senate Stands -
on Its Ollnlty-The Wave OF
Political Reform = Concern -
Ind Party Leaders ~
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has the present Democratic governor
Of Missouri. So has q Democratic
mayor of Chicago. So have the Repub-
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 q felony.
While circuit attorney Of st. Louis
Governor Folk sent several officials to
the penitentiary. Bigwigs are being
prosecuted in California and in Texas.
Senator Dubois promises startling rev.
Citations Of the fraudulent perform
ances of federal officers i'll Idaho If he
may be permitted to lift the lid. 4
reformer in Illinois who could not
prove what lie 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 statute making the So
liciting Of bride penal offense be-
cause the Kansas supreme court has
just decided that soliciting bride is
not crime under any law now exist
ing.
The New York Bar association is now
considering charges against 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
verer laws on the subject of bribery
and boodling. The retiring governor Of
Indiana in his valedictory address de-
scribed condition of election corrup-
ton In Hoosierdom 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-
tcal regeneration. There appears to be
q general shaking up all along the line
except in Delaware. In that little state
the biennial senatorial scandal now
smells to heaven, with no sign of abate-
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
Il 80 their innocence will be made to ap-
pear. Everywhere the people are show
ing o discrimination to put an end to
corrupt practices in elections and ip
legislation. When the public conscience
70 thoroughly aroused 1t can work Won
ders, and it is becoming thoroughly
aroused. In ''the good old days" of
which we hear so much sometimes
more than 100000 was expended in
purchasing single seat in parliament,
but in recent times a member was ex-
PEELED from the house of commons be-
cause during his canvass he had paid
for a dinner for q voter. Fhe world
seems to be growing better despite the
howl OF the pessimists. OF course it has
not reached perfection yet II 1t had
there would be no room for reforms
and reformers. But the reform agita-
ton now shaking the land will help, let
us hope, to shove 1t on toward ultimate
perfection, which is the millennium.