Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-07-18
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Come OH Why, two of
that last bunch cleaned up ten thousand apiece be
fore they walked the plank"
Well it's deal. No side issues for
Just the little old four thou. That's ALL
why, you amt honest, you Jack?'
We'll 1 never had Honest John tackled onto
me for handicap, but 1 don't want to go along
the street looking back to if anyones following
me-"
But those fellows are alive and we'll to-day and
the statute of limitations has en-"
Yes, maybe; but it would be just my luck
get 'snaked' My tailor says stripes unbecoming
tall men, anyway
You're foolish Jack
"a regular lobster Billy; but when I'm let out
l to sleep nights, without listening for some
to ring the door-beH and ask how about it {? .
The foregoing conversation is verbally correct
transcript between appointee to city office and
disbarred" attorney the Hon. William "Skiphis-
nanie-' 1t occurred just as written down, and is
merely given to illustrate the general idea prev
alent among the crooked, the crafty and the
scrupuious that public office was a private snap
The salary was supposed to be merely expense
money for being in the political game; the real
schemes where the official to his influence
and his opportunities to get into something good,
whereby for favors either directly indirectly
granted he got what is known sometimes his
''rake-off,' his bit
Ii he in a position where contracts to
be let ito the lowest bidder" it was his business
if CRATER to that his man the low
est bidder, to have combination among the
bidders so that the contracts would be divided
or to work in some one as sub-contractor, or in
various ways get finger in the pie so that he
could "holp up somebody for "a divvy' Where
individual officials had the entire control of their
offices, their opportunities for graft" were of
course extensive where officials co-associated
in city work, there had to be either complete and
general understanding to crooked work.
there might be underhand work by two
men which was hidden from the rest.
The public had weird and unique ideas about
graft The fact that grating" carried
in city hall and city departments to a greater
less extent during every political administration
fact that undeniable. Sometimes an
ministration especially corrupt sometimes the
administration was headed by a who
by his btterest enemies acknowledged to be strict
1ly honest. But one man could oversee the
ms and outs of every department in the CITY, there
was bound to be some grating however petty,
somewhere in the various Offices departments.
But the public generally seemed to be of the opin
ion that the instant appointed or elect
ed to Office his entire nature changed. The people
imagined, apparently, that business whose
questioned became crooked the instant he took
the oath of Office And because of this, the most
insulting and libelous statements were being ban
died back and forth by irresponsible parties,
corning men who honestly and conscientiously
doing their duty in public offices.
Citizens who appropriated without any legal right
the sidewalks in front of their for shipping
purposes-men who would follow alderman for
weeks in order to get bay-window put in down
town shop contrary to the ordinances, people who
hung about the city hall from dawn to twilight try
ing to get railroad pass. would enter a public
office with the air of Daniel going down the eleva-
tor into the lions den And if question asked
them when they stated their business they always
imagined it had hint of graft in it. Well now,
let tell you: These folks are always scent
ing graft in every public office and oficer-these
Holy Willies" that assume such -unco guild
air. they are often the people that will bear watch
ing themselves.
The fact of the was that that real graft
was handled by who worked so that nearly
always it was entirely legal in the strict letter
OF the law. measley five ten-dollar bill handed
here and there fer some favor mere bagatelle.
And as for graft in politics. the legislatures of the
various states mighty universities kim
dergartens compared to city administrations As
for the United States senate-but that is the king
row. the political checker board, and not mat
ter for comment in this article.
Money is the cheapest and least dangerous form
of graft" mean money that buys favors; brides,
IN word Big graft itself with Shares
stock .-interests'-thngs that cannot be traced
easily to corrupt Big grafters afraid
Of cold cash They want something that be