The Washington times., 1905-10-20
One DAYS News.

will read today's news with sickened
hearts. Commercial depravity among
men who have enjoyed the public
confidence and posed as examples
OF probity and self-respect, a drag
net surrender of conscience to lust
for money. a degradation among the
officers of corporations so general
that 1t arouses suspicion Of the whole
field of corporate activity-these are
its dreadful and sorrowful revela-
tions.
II these conclusions seem too
broad, let the reader consider this
list of items. covered in today's COL
umns:
A Washington clergyman deposed for
speculation
Cleveland, Ohio. accused of a $1,000
shortage In his accounts.
An attempt at blackmail in Flushing
n r. In which a man Of good family
women OF his own class unless bought
on with $500.
The determination of the Commis-
sioner OF Pensions In Washington to
drive from his rolls employees who have
persistently violated the law by ciarg-
Ing their associates extortionate inter
est.
A statement from Representative
lands. Of the Joint Conversational
COMMITTEES on public printing that in
every department Q. the Government
there Is extravaganza, reckless and
shameful waste in the matter of public
printing
of party leaders to degrade the forth
coming elections In New York, Pennsyl-
vania and Maryland.
The theft OF 10000 by an employe
OF an express company.
The alleged extortfon of $3.50. 900 from
an American commercial company for
the protection OF It's property In Ven
The alleged embezzlement OF ylss. 900
by the former president OF bank In
Louisville, Ky.
The wrecking Of bank in Pittsburg,
Pa involving the savings of thou
sands Of innocent adepositors and ap-
parently revealing the manipulation of
social standing for illegitimate per
sonal gain.
An accumulating account of funds
misappropriated. wasted. and stolen by
omciais OF great insurance companies
vartously estimated at from $4,000 coo
New York. Ohio. PENNSYLVANIA,
Maryland. Kentucky. the District of
Columbia and one foreign country,
all enrolled In a shameless chase
after money at the cost Of character!
The news Of the day before included
also Colorado and Georgia Tomor-
row may reach out, nobody knows
where. II is evident that our awak-
ening to honesty has not come too
soon.
Yet, in the depression and sorrow
which such list as this must cause.
we must not forget that these Of
lenses are only barnacles after all.
The real substance Of American life
is honest. Most OF these men have
lowered the standard of their busi-
ness life in response to an extraordi-
nary competition, and in company
with many Of their fellows. for it is
a curious characteristic of human
nature that 1T will condescend to
wrongdoing In company which II
would shun instinctively alone. Some
of the wrongdoing has been prompt
ed by tone OF fippancy adopted In
many newspapers, a tone that makes
a joke of weakness of character and
covers over the degradation of the
spirit with laugh.
And so money-lust has carried
these offenders over the brink. But
1t has left the great bulk Of our peo-
pie as sturdily honest and as proud
and as true to their best impulses as
any people ever were in all the his
tory Of the world. They have made
only. one mistake and they are cor
recting that now with all their might
they have been too trustful, too
confident, too conservative, too much
impressed by the things that money
can buy without culture, spirit, or
conscience to help. They have made
this mistake. But they have been
and they always will be honest.