The Irish standard., 1905-08-19
Private Control of Corporations Blamed Fo,
Crookedness by Chicages Popular
Chief Executive.
Pays Splendid Tribute to the Race Whose
Love of Liberty Has Never Been
Extinguished by Persecution.

Graft" was the theme of Mayor Ed
ward F. Dunno of Chicago In an ad-
dress which was the star attraction at
the picnic of the Ancient Order of Hi
bernians at Milwaukee last Saturday,
says the Chicago Record-Herald of the
18th. The subject was considered
particularly appropriate in Milwaukee,
in city and county that have been
the scene of a municipal housecleaning
made necessary by graft. Before the
cleaning up the situation had been
summarized by the present district at,
torney in these words: "Of the forty
three members of the Milwaukee coun-
ty board there was not half dozen
honest men, and in the council of 4G
members the percentage Of honesty
ran about the same"
Politicians in large numbers gath
cred to pay their respects to party
leader from the big neighboring city.
Mayor Rose, who has occupied the
mayoralty chair throughout the period
that has been and still is under grand
jury investigation, was conspicuous
figure at the gathering. Mayor Dunno
was the guest of the Milwaukee chief
magistrate while in the city.
Mayor Dunno, accompanied by Sher-
if Thomas E. Barrett of Cook county,
arrived here early In the afternoon,
and after an informal reception follow
ing the meeting with the committee
that awaited him at the station was
escorted to the picnic grounds.
Public ownership was prescribed by
Mayor Dunno as the panacea for the
ills Of the body politic-graft, Doodle
and Official corruption generally. He
made no specific allusion to the Mil
waukee situation, but his declaration
that private ownership of public utili
ties was at the bottom of three-quar,
ters Of all the political corruption now
existing in the country reminded his
audience that the man controlling the
Milwaukee Street Railway and Light
company few years ago was under
indictment on charges growing out OF
the graft" crusade.
"Sinister and selfish interests are all
prevalent in the political life Of the re-
public" said Mayor Dunne. Evidences
of Oroft opd corrup+iop oro about ,,o
on every hand. Public officials with
alarming frequency are found whose
careers are besmirched with the taint
Of debauchery. Look we'll into the
character Of the man you vote for
Look we'll to the principles he advo
Gates. The shocking spectacle which
has been presented within the last
few months of two United States sen
Ators being convicted of political cor
ruption and the wholesale implication
! Of lesser lights in the political world
in Doodle and corruption, should i'm
press all thinking men Of the care with
| which they should use their suffrage
as citizens.
"And while on this topic let me say
| that in my judgment three-quarters OF
all the political corruption now exist
ing in this country, sickening exam.
pies of which we have seen in the
public prints during the last few
| months, can be laid at the doors of
corporations and men who have been
seeking to obtain from the public ex.
elusive rights and privileges in the
shape Of private monopolies Of pubic
property. Three-quarters Of the cor.
ruption in American life can be di.
rectly traced to the efforts of private
individuals or corporations to obtain
possession and control of the public
utilities of cities, counties and states,
and special rights from. the federal
government. And this is the reason
why for one have been strenuously
advocating the placing of such public
utilities in public hands, and thus re.
moving from the sphere of politics the
opportunity and temptation for such
public corruption.
place the control of interstate rail.
ways, telegraphs, long distance tele-