The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-14

Boston. Dec. 14.--District Attorney Will
liam H. Langdon Of San Francisco, the
man who put Mayor Schmltz and ABE
Ruef behind prison bars, and who has
Just gone through one OF the most exten-
sive municipal house-cleanngs the coun-
try has ever seen, declared on his arrival
IN Boston yesterday that government by
commission is the surest way OF ridding a
city OF graft, which he defined as Ia de-
spotic usurpation Of government by the
forces OF crime"
zone OF the most effective remedies for
dishonesty In politics." he said, lis gov
ernment by commission such as has been
adopted In Galveston and Des Moines. IL
takes business men into politics and is
the greatest cure for the policy OF laissez-
faire. which means social suicide
Al Ford hall last night Boston city club
men heard Mr.. Langdon tell the story OF
corruption In San Francisco, and of its
suppression by the combined forces OF
talented leadership expert service and an
aroused public opinion.
I'm the development of the ages" said
he. "our great municipalities have become
congested. What formerly was the initial
part OF the country has diminished I'm pop
ulation while the cities have proportion
ately increased. and today there has
grown up system OF crime that was.
j think little heard OF i'm the great old
days when Bunker Hill was made famous.
But we live under a democratic form OF
government, and we are entitled only to
the kind of government that we get If
we deserve good government, and desire
and demand il. we shall get good govern
ment (Applause.) Bot IL. on the other
hand. you of Boston and you OF New
York, and you OF those other cities on
this Atlantic coast, become absorbed In
BUSINESS affairs. as we did on the Pacific
coast--become SC engrossed In the ambi-
tions Of trade and commerce and wealth
that you forget you have any functions
10 perform In governmental affairs-then
the idle and the indolent will get as with
us, into public Office, and you will have
the results which we have had to fight In
San Francisco.
GRAFT A DESPOTISM.
What, then. does graft mean? II
means a despotic usurpation OF govern
ment by the forces OF crimc. 1t Is q
more arbitrary despotism than anything
we have known. Government no longer
follows the law and the spirit OF the law,
as laid down by the majority vote In the
statutes. charters and constitutional
abrogates the law which its criminal
minority could not defeat in fair vote.
'rhe divine right of kings--the rule that
might makes rlgnt-neVer yet ldiSeu o.
despotism like that of graft. What does
IL mean when the people lose faith In
democracy, grow cynical OF government
and cease TO resist their political evils.
II means complete paralysis OF the demo-
cratic will TO resist the intrusion upon
free government and the inalienablo
rights Of men
"The struggle is on between democ-
lacy and graft. One OF tho other must
60 down. One upholds the moral and
constitutional rights OF men, the other
would betray them to the corrupt few.
The one affirms that ultimately all men
will govern wisely and Justly; the other
would turn government over 20 the un-
scrupulous But we must not permit
this struggle to go on without taking
part in II and battling for the right
How can business. which Is founded
upon mutual confidence and trust. long