Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-04-20
CRAFT NEVER
SHOWS UP
ON BOOKS

vi 'he republican party that the
books and accounts of the City are
open to inspection; that is the same
could be examined by accountants.
and that if irregularity could be
shown therefrom the republican
ticket would be withdrawn.
Graft never appears from the
books and this statement is merely
intended as a blum and to mislead
the voting public. Never in the his
tory OF graft has It appeared on the
books and accounts as such, and It
is not reasonable to suppose any set
OF men so entirely ignorant as to
place items OF graft upon public
record for inspection
Two great instances of graft have
occurred within the last year. one at
Harrisburg, Pa, in the state Capital.
another at San Francisco. The can
ital of Pennsylvania cost about f.
million dollars-its actual cost was
about one-third OF this amount
The balance graft. The rooms were
furnished by officials from two hum
dred to a thousand per cent profit
\ desk which cost $125.OO was
charged against the State at more
than 100000. Yet, the books
themselves were models of account
ihg and bookkeeping and no irregu-
larity could be detected therefrorl
The graft was only discovered after
an investigating committee made
he most rigid examination by 20
ing behind the accounts, summon,ng ?
Witnesses and going to the bottom uf
The whole matter.
over million dollars is said TO
have been given I'm bribes TO two
men I'm San Francisco for their inHu-
ance in the prostitution of San
Francisco alone. Did this appear
rom the books? and IS it reasonable
10 suppose that any set of men would
have so little Intelligence as to vol
unfairly enter their deeds of thus
haracter upon public record?
Graf is money on the side, given
city official who is willing to abuse
and sell the city's interests for his
own benefit. 1t is the betrayal OF 4
trust placed in a public official This
crime is covered with all caution
possible both by the CRATER and tse
party paying.
The proposition that If the reform
organization of BluefeId alleges
graft on the part of Blueheld officials
IT should be shown from the books
Is preposterous, and only irtended
as a boomerang to mlslead the voting
public. 1t is the same weapon and
The same argument that Reuff anl
Schmitz, the grafters under lndict
ment are using in San Francisco 10
day We have never supposed that
any set OF grafters had the ehront
cry to charge up items of graft as
such. 1t would indeed be most re-
markable if they did.
Mr.. Balingee, the ring candidate.
said last night that he wanted all
the votes he could get whether they
be legal or illegal votes; that ne
would not refuse the Office If elected
by illegal votes and his election so
declared by the commissioners. In
other words, he would not consider
whether the votes we're legal or
Illegal
This is principle which is abus-
ing the American institutions TODAY.
and the stability Of our Government
must rest solely upon the purity OF
The ballot. When the ballot becomes
an instrument Of designing politi-
clans, subject to barter and sale.
and the officers who are elected by
The suffrage Of the people hold Of
fee by such election our country
will indeed border upon anarchy.
The gentleman has evidently for
gotten the maxim that he who ac-
cepts the benefits Of a wrong is also
q party TO the wrong"
The ablest English statesman to-
day says "The most sacred gift
ever bestowed upon a free people By
a sovereign power IS the free suffrage
of It's citizens" But when this right
Is abused by vote buying and the
use Of the ignorant as a mere tool
for politicians. f. ceases to be such.
and becomes the most dangerous
evil that a people can have.
SO people should be denied a Ie-
eol vote I'm Blueneld, but that the
rinra1 from the coal fields have
been brought here and voted by the
ring politicians IS shocking. This
was done at the expense Of some
one, but with the expectation Of full
benefit in some way