The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-14
PURIFIER OF FRISCO
FAvORS A COMMISSION
Best Way Drive Out Modern Tyranny is Des Moine Plan
District Attorney Langdon ellis Boston City Club Public
Must Be Aroused Against Graft and Graters

grow when men come TO look upon each
other as bribers, corruptors Of govern
ment and buyers OF special privileges,
Business upon land could not prosper
until the brigand was destroyed, COM
merce upon the sea could not flourish
until the pirate was throttled: no more
can modern business grow strongly,
firmly and broadly till the thieves In
office and the thieves I'm business take
their hands off the throats OF the bust
ness world and cease levying their trib-
ute. (Applause)
HARD TO OVERCOME.
Government must be redeemed from
graft and from the corruptoIs. II Is not
an easy task, as the history OF every
city shows. But we must be ready to
adjust our governmental conceptions and
agencies TO the changing conditions. II
is perhaps true that what democracy
most needs is more democracy. In the
redemption OF government from graft
one gl eat need OF democracy Is talented
and efficient leadership-men OF courage,
devotion and the initiative that insures
generalship In the struggle against the
organized machine.
"In San Francisco we found these men
when We wanted them. The public or
fcer and the private citizen together bear
the responsibility of government, ana
when the public officer turns traitor. II
In the right and privilege of the pri-
vate citizen TO rise and protect the rights
of the people and their codes OF law.
Such a man Is Rudolph Spreckles. who
drew a check OF 100000 and gave II IL
make his native city clean. (Applause)
They have questioned his motives, and
have tried to snub him In the clubs, but
say TO you that he is actua.ed abso-
lutely and solely by civic duty, and neith-
er public office nor public franchise would
be accepted by him under any set OF con-
ditions. (Applause)
when the leading members OF the bar
OF California and of other states were
scrambling for large fees in the graft
defence Hiram Johnson not only refused
to accept employment from the defence
but offered his services To the state CAP
plause) And there was man named
Sanborn who Joined the jury In an indict,
nnent against his closest personal friend
and business associate.
I'm addition to talented leaders and ex.
pert service, you need for the struggle
against graft supporting public opinion.
We had TO deal with corrupt public OFF,
cials who took money from both sides,
and then gave the franchise to the COM
pany that paid the most.
II am glad 10 say that the daily press
Loyalty supported the graft prosecution,
though l cannot say that OF the weekly
papers
AFTER MEN HIGHER UP.
ut Is time," said Mr.. Langdon. In clos
ing, ito stop the brazen and confident ef-
frontery of the criminal rich who COM
init crime and then sit back complacently.
thinking they can buy judges as they
have bought executives and legislatures,
and knowing they can buy legal talent 10
interpose tcchnicaliues In every court OF
the land. until justice becomes a human
travesty tangled In its own web
I'VE are after the men higher up be-
cause we believe them to be the severest
menace to our Institutions. We are after
the men higher up so as to make crimi-
nal acquisition unproiitable-so that young
men and women growing up In this coun-
try may once more rightly believe not
only that dishonesty does not pay but
that OF all goods on this earth the great
est treasure is straightforward life."
(Cheers)