The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-04-14
HAS Been LEFT TO The
INCOMPETENT AND DISHONEST
CauStIc Criticism Of American
Politics By Former Gov
Grn0r Of Ohio

New York, April a. With a
sweeping statement that American
politics have degenerated into q mat
ter OF Spoils and that thc administra.
lion Of public affairs "to an amazing
degree has been LEFT TO the inc0mpc.
teht and dishonest former Cover
nor Myron T. Herrick Of Ohio made
service "Wednesday night IN an ad'
dress before the National Metal
Trades association at the Hotel
Astor
Coupled with his comment upon
the government. Federal, state and
municipal Mr. Herrick defended the
administration of President TalL
Who, he claimed, by economies In
many departments, had reduced The
stimates By $4,000 900 and would
'ifect still further reduction IL he
vas propely supported by congress.
Members Of congress were charged
" Mr. Herrick Wth the waste and
extravaganza which. he claimed, per-
meated the department.
Congress Is Scored.
III Is with the greatest reluctance,
he said, that congress approves any
change that may involve decrease
in patronage
IN regard to municipal extrava.
sance, Mr. llerrck declared the
bonded Indebtedness of The cities was
increasing much more rapidly than
municipal assets and that taxes for
operating expenses were becoming
more bufdensome with each succeed
ng year,
In 1902 he said, "the percentage
If the revenue of all the cities in The
'ounIry to their debt was ~ 03. In
9D9 this percentage was decreased
| o 25.9 IN Giles above 100000 IN
| population the municipal eXpendi
ures increased 20 per cent per cap
| TIA, from 1892 to 1907. If this IN.
rease continues the pressure on
aXatlon will soon become miolerablc
md credit exhausted
The cause of governmental dishon.
| asty and incompetence is due, ac
| cording 10 MI Herrick, to the fact
that the ablcst men In The country
IRE attracted by the exraordInary op
| )ortunities that business affords IN
| he United States and refuses lC
ldopt political career
| lncompetency Prevails.
| Many Of those who have assumed
he administrative functions Of GOV
| ernment," he said, "are so poorll
| Qualified foe their duties, SO devoid o
ligh purposes, thai the consequent
| Extravaganza and waste is appalling
| This condition Is moi confined to any
| particular administration nor TO any
| one section OF the country II Is al
| widespread as HE nation and charac
erlzes the governments of munici
| lalilies, counties, states aud the ma
ion
Incidentally Mr.. Herrick condemn
ed the proposed establishment OF {
postal savings bank He declared
the postollice department T. run al
| political organization, instead Of
business department.
Since the Jackson administration,
he said, THE postofice has peen ea
enially Il political organization /
Is now proposed that thls depart
ment, which can lose $Gi ,100000 il
| one branch OF It's business WihOu
xciing more than passing comment
| Which has not changed It's method
lnce 1895, shall become The cuslo
lian Of The peoples savings.
Publish More Facts.
| The remedy for the governments
wills which he sees lies, in Mr.. Het
| fiek's opinion, In the extension OF tn
activities Of such organizations as tn
bureau Of municipal research In Ne'
| York and the Merriam commissio
II Chicago These and similar oi
anizaliona should, Mr. Herrc
mainiamed, carry their inquiries int
very department Of the national an
state governments and lay beior
The people an exact account Of ho'
heir affairs were being transacted
| ---------------------4--
Had dyspepsia or Indigestion fC
years. No appetite and what dl
| Eat distressed me terribly. Burdoe