The state herald., 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
q CRATER" who was on the run"
Then. when he was finally indicted. his lawyers
would consent TO tell what outrage II was that
their client should be prosecuted All criminal
proceedings which seek to bring CRATER" to
book" are known by his lawyers as "man,hunts." +"
The big "grafter's" friends flock 10 the court.
room. and quite frequently the utmost courtesy
ls extended him by officials high up In jail
circles; especially II he be OF the same party as
the Jail officials. II he happens to be the other
side OF the political fence. these courtesles are
omitted.
After u big CRATER" s convicted there is the
usual appeal to the higher courts and lot OF
skrmishing TO keep him out OF the ponitentiary.
but he gets there jus, the same He may. after
serving year Of his sentence. become so Ill
that he Will have to be pardoned II he has re-
turned part OF the money he stole. this In chance
not to be overlooked. But II he Is "stin nccked"
aud insists ON hanging TO what he got, the
chances ARE not so favorable Only rdiculoualy
small percentage OF the big "graftsrs" have been
punished. Some Of the biggest OF them all have
absorbed their graft legally But II was graft,
nevertheless on many. the statute OF limitations
has run" and prosecution made impossible. But
II Is cheering to relate tina, grating" Is not quite
so fashionable na II used 10 be by OF these
prosecutions. and much MS the "reformor' has
been held M TO rdieulc. II has been the rcformer
and the reform organizations that have made
grating" n not unpopular at least dangerous.
Petty grating can never be wholly stamped
out. nm II can be handed around by means OF
presents. privileges etc. In such way that IL
cannot be traced to provide ground for
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 II n liable 10 make most inHldlonr hcndwny
Is In city councils, There II may DO found either
Indirectly or directly apparent. And II II there.
after ALL that II Ia most dangerous, because affect.
INK mn entire city II public Official steals from
his once. II n not such direct injury 10 tho
public man NJ the man who SELLS out 10 lam n
franchise through council
And no. In tho last analysis, the eyes n the re.
formers aud the citizens should bn frod steadily
on city councils The best candidates for alder.
men are none too good. the salary should be
such tina, man could awe all of hia time 10 tho
work and be we'll and even handsomely paid. II
Of time In the city council for $1,000 salary, they
afe merely putting a premium on grating"
The day of the bfagen CRATER has gone by
The new regime In making for better things The
only way that grating can flourish nowadays
II by having n city administration In full accord
with III. most Influential newspapers Of n city
apply the "gthh' legally, pocket tho "fakeon,"
point To the statutes In such case made and pro
yided." and 80 far as tho public Ia concerned Hiet
the CALLED Jade vince"