Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-04-27

often heard. He blames politics. He
says:
Il think l ought to be pardoned,
too. l think that something ought
to be done for me at once. The
three trials have made my wife a
nervous wreck and she never will be
well again. | am not well either
think that | am as much entitled
to a pardon as were Taylor and Fin
ley and if they were turned loose
ought to be-"
1t does seem wrong to hold one
man while others are pardoned and
liberated and eXonerated without
trial. But Kentucky knows best
for Kentucky, and all trust justice
will prevail
Youtsey told how he had begun
life with bright prospects, had grad
uated in the same law class with
Congressman Longworth and then
had fallen into politics and ended in
the penitentiary
Sad story. If all the men in poll
ties who are guilty of crime were in
filled and running over.
Politics has strange contaminat-
ing influence. 1t has ruined hosts
of men. 1t has made honest men
! dishonest. 1t has invaded business
institutions and wrecked them. 1t
has entered homes and wrought hav-
oc there. Its paths are strewn with
hn oe i
their innocent victims, upon which
have been erected many of the mon
uments of political fame for those
who have won while causing woe
among those who have played the
game and lost"
Yet politics is far from being all
bad. 1t is the greatest field for real
patriotism that exists. 1t is produc-
ing many real patriots Unfortunate
ly such patriots are all too few, but
politics is producing them-men who
enter the great arena of public af-
fairs and official trust determined to
serve public interests even though
that service involve personal sacri-
flee. And right there is the secret
of success or failure in politics. There
is the cross road where men must
take their choice. Pointing up one
road to honorable success and con-
scientious duty is the sign, Public
Interests. while the other road leads
to Private Gain
1t is the scramble of men in poll
tics to reap private gain that has
caused ruin. 1t is the enforcement
of the boss and the slavery of the
satellites CT the boss that cause
the corruption, the vice, the rotten
ness, the graft, the wallowing in pri-
vate gain with consequent ruin.
1t is adherence to the lofty ideals
of public service, patriotic devotion
to the interests of the people of the
men, women, children and the home,
that has caused to rise from politics
the nations great men of today like
scores and scores of others too num-
erous to mention, who have fought
for honesty in politics.
Well and periodically the Spring
field Register says:
Don't blame politics for your ruin
Blame the peculiar manner of play
ing the game. If you played it fol
self, for private gain, for individual
| machine" or mere party interests
| you've lost. If you have played il
for the public good. you have won
THE humblest official in the hum
blest Office devoting his best ener
| gfes to serving the public good in hi:
lowly capacity is far greater and bet
ter than the official in the most eXalt
ed position who is devoting hi
authority to selfish interests. Poll
tics ruins men because they do no
let conscience guide them at the eros
roads. Politics needs men today
patriots, heroes; men for public
service who will not falter to stan,
| and fight the hosts who are playing
politics and holding office for pri
vate gain"