The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-03-07
COMMISSIONS AND GRAFT.

Ours is all ideal government,
and was so modelled and designed
by Our fathers, who created it, and
consecrated it with their blood. that
their prosterity might have peace,
liberty and prosperity, with equal
rights to all the fruits Of thei pro-
duction. But passing years have
changed the principles CT men, and
the customs of former times. The
garb of integrity has been laid aside
and deceit and intrigue seem to
clothe SO large a portion OF both
public aud private business.
1t seems that the people bow the
knee to the gods of corruption and
thus corruption reigns supreme in
public life. But if the principles
of truth and honesty were as scru-
piously observed and practiced by
public officials and corporations, as
the principles of rascality and cor
ruption are sought after, and delib-
eritely practiced, our statute books
would be filled with a code Of laws
over which the people of our state
would rejoice with thanksgiving
and gladness. "a square deal with
every person" would ie the inevi
table results.
The people would not petition
the legislature against passing OBJ
noxious and corrupt measures,
which, continually press for prece-
dence, nor petition tor the repeal of
already existing obnoxious laws
that menace the peace and prosper
ity Of our people.
The whole body polite has be-
come leprous with parasites, scabs,
sores, ulcers and cancers that eat
out the rights, liberties and sub
stance Of our people. But these are
the natural fruits Of corruption
which haunt every remaining trace
of civic righteousness, with the OBJ
ject of overwhelming all good, with
degeneracy ultimately.
The rank and file of the people
irrespective of party, hunger and
thirst after civic righteouness, in
every department Of governmental
affairs, but corporate greed, theft
and graft among leading bosses
have become SO engrossed in their
scheming tor plunder, that they
have lost all regard for the peoples
interests, that they violate every
principle of justice that affects the
welfare of the people.
If the political leprous body
loathed it's disease of leprosy, it
could easily be cured of its leprosy
by dipping seven times in the re-
form river. One dipping does ro
good as that has been tried. 1t
needs seven dippings and terrible
washings besides, to thoroughly
cleanse it.
Our State government, as origi-
nally organized was presided over
by governor. whose function it
was to simply enforce the laws.
There was no bureaus in which to
lock up the rights and liberties of
the people. This political leprous
body has created a fanatical bureau
cracy, granting authority that
equals the tyranny of the Gar of
Russia. The Health Commission
is clothed with authority that ex-
ceeds constitutional bounds and
powers that the people cannot en-
dorse, or it usurps authority de-
structive to personal liberty. This
Commission proposes to saddle our
public schools with burdens wholly
foreign to the principles and object
to the founders of our public school
system. And if this commission
is permitted 10 execute its designs,
as outlined by DR.. Dixon, his reme-
dies and cures for stamping out all
the causes of disease, will be hun.
dred fold worse than the diseases.
And it is noteworthy fact that
the more DR., Dixon perscribes
remidical legislation, the greater is
the death rate, and the greater in
roads diseases make into the health
Of the people. DR.. Dixon cannot