Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-13
Publicity as a Corrective.

Joseph w. Folk, former governor of
Missouri, said several years ago that
municipal corruptionists were neither
republicans nor democrats, but simply
rogues.
Senator Root once said that the po-
litical oligarchy in Philadelphia was
"a criminal combination masquerading
as republicans
Now comes Governor Charles E.
Hughes Of New York, who, in a speech
delivered recently, expressed the same
thought, when he said that political
corruption is not partisan, but the
common enemy, against which all par
ties and the people as a whole must
continually wage an unrelenting war.
The sooundrelism for which the essen
tial operations Of government make
the opportunities, he says, is the curse
of all parties.
In the course of the same speech
Governor Hughes voiced the sentiment
and desire of all well-disposed people
when he said that, though attached to
his own party and ever solicitous for
its success, he cherished beyond all
the hope that he may "see the spring
of government pure and its waters
sweet to the taste" Continuing, he
said that it was his desire Ito see the
Illicit efforts of privilege frustrated
bribery and corrupt arrangements de-
stroyed and the market places where
government favors have been bought
and sold converted into true assem-
blies Of honest Representatives Of the
people"
There are conditions in Illinois sim
liar to those inveighed against by
Governor Folk as existing in Missouri;
by Senator Root in reference to Phil
adelphia, and by Governor Hughes in
regard to New York It is not surpris-
ing, in view of the disclosures made
public in various localities throughout
the country during the last few years.
that these revelations have shaken the
faith Of the public in the professional
chronic politician The people every
where are showing a determination to
rid themselves of the incubus. Pub
licity is doing more to remedy the evils
that have existed than any other
means. Publicity is not only whole
some punishment, but a strong pre-
tentative. The people are being arous-
ed from their lethargy or ignorance
about conditions and reforms are be-
ing initiated and carried out. There
is determination growing all over
the land to get rid of the corruption-
lists who sail under party colors, but
are united in schemes for plumber.
In many cities this determination is
being expressed in the adoption of
charters providing for the commission
form of government. OF these char
ters none Is more striking and COM
pletely democratic in it's structure than
that adopted recently by the city of
Grand Junction, Col. Under it the peo-
pie of that city enjoy not only the in
itiative, referendum and right of re-
call, but also proportional representa-
ton.
The effort is not only to avoid the
ever-present danger of corruption,
which the people have learned is pos
sible under strictly party or political
administration, but to hold fast to the
effective weapon of recall. In this
| they see the ever-present method of
stopping the ravages of the traitor and
/ bribe-taker and the CRATER
The people are to be congratulated
in deciding to again take part in run
ming their own public business. The
party label is losing its power, and
party ties are breaking in local affairs.