The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1908-07-10

was the work of political enemies or "a dis
charged employe seeking revenge" very fine
article OF rosy talk" was usually INDUCED in by
"grafter' who was the run"
Then when he was finally indicted, his lawyers
would consent to tell what an outrage it that
their client should be SO prosecuted All criminal
proceedings which seek to bring a CRATER to
book are known by his lawyers as "man-hunts.' y
The big "grafter's' friends flock to the court
room, and quite frequently the utmost courtesy
is extended HIM by officials high up in Jail
circles; especially if he be of the party as
the Jail officials. If he happens to be on the other
side of the political fence these courteses are
omitted.
After big CRATER" is convicted there is the
usual appeal to the higher courts and lot of
skirmishng to keep him out of the penentary
but he gets there Just the same. He may, after
serving year of his sentence, become so i'll
that he will have to be pardoned If he has re-
turned part of the money he STOLE this is chance
not to be overlooked But if he is 'stnecked'
and insists on hanging to what he got. the
chances favorable. Only ridiculously
small percentage of the big "grafters' have been
punished. Some of the biggest of them all have
absorbed their graft legally. But it graft
nevertheless. On many, the statute of limitations
has run, and prosecution made impossible. But
1t is cheering to relate that grating is not quite
so fashionable it used to be by reason of these
prosecutions; and much the "rcformer' has
been held up to rldicule it has been the reformer
and the reform organizations that have made
grating, if not unpopular, at least dangerous.
Petty grating" never be wholly stamped
out, as it be handed around by means of
presents. privileges, etc, in such way that it
cannot be traced SO to provide ground fer
criminal prosecutions.
The technical term graft" while peculiarly
applied to politics. is not confined to that sphere
only Business, banking and railroad circles have
the disease. In city administrations the spot
where it is liable TO make most insdous headwaY
is in city councils. There it may be found either
indirectly or directly apparent. And it is there,
after all, that il Is most dangerous because affect
ing entire city If public official steals fro"
his office, it is not such direct injury to the
public man the man who sells out to jam a
franchise through council
And so. in the last analysis, the eyes of the
formers and the citizens should be fixed steadily
on city councils The best candidates for alder
men are none TOO good; the salary should be
such that a man could give all of his time to the
work and be well and even handsomely paid II
the public expects man to give $4,000 wAth
of time in the city council for 50 900 salary, they
are merely putting a premium on grating
The day of the braZen "grafter' has gone by
The new regime is making for better things. The
only way that grating can flourish nowadays
is by having city administration in full accord
with the most influential newspapers of a city
apply the graft legally, pocket the 'rake-of."
point to the statutes in such case made and pro
vided, and so lar as the public is concerned "let
the CALLED jade vince"