Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-07-18

manipulated that the ugly word mon
ey' can be eliminated in case of an ex-
posure Cash is hard commodity to "jugg1e,"
but shares stocks can be better explained
to jury. So only the ignorant or most brazen
of the big "grafters' go after the money in the
form of U. S. bank bills. Records are telltales;
and money taken wrongfully and unaccounted for
often returns to plague the hypothecator with a
penitentiary sentence.
Another thing that seems to be overlooked is
that legislation will not grating" True.
it can and does punish the individual; but moth
ing but aroused spirit of higher citizenship will
effect general cure of the evil If you want to
know how many people in your city and county
out after something for nothing get into
political position which either actually gives You
chances for bestowing favors, apparently offers
the opportunity. Ninety-fve per cent of the peo-
pie who call on you come for the purpose of hay-
ing you do them some favor, either for them
selves others; and they not at all particu-
lar about how the favor is done that it be
done For myself know was bombarded day
and night after got into office with requests that
ranged all the way from the impudent to the fg-
norant Requests to aid in the way of evading
or ignoring city ordinances were matters of daily
occurrence. And the charming thing about it
that the parties assumed that this was mat
ter of course in the routine business of the city
hall. 1t not merely whats the constitution
between friends?" but what's honesty between
acquaintances?
skate No 1 would introduce skate No q
and the latter would unfold a scheme to pull
off, something in some other department OF the
city hail. which not only against all canons
of decency regarded common honesty, but SO
ridiculOusly apparent that no one Dut an 1enOrafI
would concoct such a plan Now these things
happened often that if you got mad at each
occurrence you would be in state of semiapo
plexy half the time. The only thing to do was to
cut the interview short by saying L haven't any
thing to do with that department; if you have
any business with that end of the city go there
yourself"
But when you come to pin down any great
of graft in most of the city administra
tons offices you failed, from the simple reason
that there comparatively little of it Was 1T
because greater publicity and greater vigilance
being had through hostile press and
watchful opposite party? Or was it because an
Improvement being made in the character OF
the elected and appointed Or was it both!
At any rate, there was steady advance for the
better during the cycle of at least eight years or
my experience in politics Given an able and
vigilant at the head of citys affairs, and
graft" will be reduced to minimum during his
of Office. Given any other kind of a man,
graft" will lift its hydra head
1t is curious thing about manifestation, that the
tendency to make "a little on tie side seems to
be apparent in all administrations, but is either
dormant active the man at the helm is
either alert inattentive- Like yellow fever in
Cuba, it is always present, even if only ohe case
of it
The cheap CRATER" when found out, never had