New-York tribune., 1906-05-19

THE STRUGGLE FOR SELF COY EItH 5Ii,. " ~
Beng an Attempt 20 Trace American Pontcal
Corruption 10 It's Sources IN SIX states OF @ tne
United states WiTa 129o pp xiv. 2Sl Nc
Clure. Phillips Co
Mr. Steffens's latest contribution to the litera-
ture of exposure appears az moment the least
favorable for producing the effect that II was
we may grant intended to create The Man
with the Muck-Rak however unenviaole MS
occupation, regarded from the standpoint of the
Ioorer-on is exercising a. useful function if he
serves TO arouse US 10 a sense Of the sloveniy
habits which have permitted or encouraged the
accumulation Of the unwhclesome dirt that he
brings to our view. and If his efforts are directed
as we'll to enlisting our assistance not only IN
removing the corruption but in so reforming our
habits that the work, once done will not have to
be repeated. II, however, the raker is simply
engaged in stirring UP the muck which he has
uncovered, because he finds it congenial occu-
patton. or to present 1t to a curious, if Of
fensive. phenomenon he only succeeds in dis
gusting us with his work and with ourselves.
and N hardening us to conditions which we
gradually come TO regard as inevitable and
therefore endurable.
The last two or three years have witnessed in
the volumes of our periodical literature a very
persistent stirring up of American political
financial and commercial corruption. which may
he REGARDED partly as a symptom and paEuy dc d
stimulus Of an awakened public conscience Inc
exposures have been in many cases sensatlona-'
ana they have readily lent themselves to sensa-
,iona1 treatment Among the most industrious
- The ;,ves&igator-reporters has been the au-
thor Of the present book, which is lnoeeo'
oovnnosed of half dozen or so Of his contrlou-
4,oDs 70 a magazine that has taken leadhs
80. An tbe movement The effects Of this
,eofov9 ore n
IN all sides and in many directions, in the actiV-
,tv of public prosecuting officers and OF the
courts. in the demands Of the people as expressed
ot the polls, and in resulting legislative inquiry
and eraction The literature Of exposure, II IS
now, generally felt has served its end and should
make way for writing of more constructive
noneful tone The knowledge of our sins has
had a wholesomely depressing effect upon our
characters The publication Of further details
NJ o1,r shortcomings Will only tend to make US
v,orbsd What we now need is to be shown how
~ he better, and to be supported in our efforts
20 become go.
II IS for this reason that the publication OF MT
steRens's book is untimely, and to that extent
reerettable The articles Of which 1t Is re-
nrint some of them two years old have already
exercised any influence for good that tney pos
ssssed. and at their best they were though dig
type of Journalism which is customarily quail
aeA bv quotation marks To give them the fur
fber dignity OF separate publication and cloth
covers would have been under any circum-
stances. to set too high valuation upon them
Excuse may be sought for bringing out these
articles in book form at this crisis the plea
that they are in fact constructive; that they
illustrate the more or less successful efforts OF
individuals in several states TO bring about po-
utical reforms: that they shcw public opinion
,rhen properly aroused, as in the main sound
ord effective in bringing about the election Of
oN5cials who represent the will OF the people and
not that of the corporations. That the publish
ors recognize that the public is now demanding
noIiticaI literature Of a more optimistic tone,
and that they are prepared to claim such char
acter for The Struggle for Self-Government.
,s made clear by this book wrapper review"
ar descriptive notice. which is sent out with
every copy:
In this book Mr. steffens tells the story Of OF the
deFnand for clean government that has arisen IN
ali parts OF our country. Taking ONO; NsW jersey
Rhode Island, Wisconsin. Illinois ana missouri as
his examples, he shows the steps mat Lne peoPte
have MADE toward getting the governing power out
az the hands OF the corrupt poIltcal posses INTO
stSvrirS story and one fun Of encouragement, be-
cause Il shows what has been and Wnat can DC ac-
compllshed by a few right minded determined IN
MF steRens knows his subject other man
in this country for ne mas sPsnt years n ~ b % as1 5
representative sections Of our country he writes
brilliantly even dramatically ahS nesS "a % rb & I
sure 20 prove poWeTfuI sunuius 10 the IlS"l Alhd
Of active citizenship
Let US saa whether this description more ac-