The Sentinel=record., 1910-01-06
honesty and integrity of their ser

honesty and integrity of their ser.
 wants and agents.
 It Is sad commentary upon rne state of public opinion that the mo-
 ment a man accepts a public office ne beconies scoundrel in the eyes of
 many of our people and his previous
 life of honesty and reclirude Is no
 warrant of official integrity. His acts are misconstrued ands his motives questioned. Insinuation and innuen- does are freely made under the guise of the public welfare, but in reality to foster some private interest. Pop. ular views are taken advantage of to diseredit an ohlcial, who, after inyes- tigating all phases of a subject, may leach a decision at variance with a priA ate interest.
 Many do not stop to think how seldom have government officials gone astray compared with their op- portunities and temptations for wrong doing. In the hundred and twenty five years of our national life few of the men in high positions have been actuated by otaer tnan the highest and mots patriotic motives. This should cause our people to hesitate to accept charges of base conduct against their public servants without investigation and proof
 The press and magazines the country for several months have been filled with charges against the present secretary of the interior and his con- duet of the office he holds. These charges range from petty insinuatIons and innuendoes to direct charges of malfeasanee and misconduct in office, which, if true, show that he has most unworthily discharged his trust.
 A moments thought should cause an honest and fair minded man to hesitate to accept such charges against man whose whole life here tofcse has been one ol the highest rectitude and against whom no dis honorable charge has ever been made either in prigate or puO.Ic life.
 Such man is the present secre- tary cf the interior He is over 5O years Of age. an honored graduate oi Williams College and a lawyer ol a.s- tinction. He came to our state in 1889 and has lived there ever since.
 MT Jones then gave a synopsis of seven of the most important recom- mendations made by MT. Dallinger, and continuing his remarks, said:
 Conscious of the purity of his mo. tiyes and the recttude of his inten- tlons the secretary of the interior welcomes this investigation. l have presented the resolution calling TOT thi sinvestigy tion not in his behalf or in antagonism to any other off. oial of the government but in the in- teaest of good administration and in order that the people may> know the facts of this deplorable controversy and for the judgment thereon of an impartial body.
 This resolution has been drawn directing the committee 10 investigate along certain and specific lines and then authority is given to 1t to maze any further investigation that it may deem desirable The intention is to secure the broadest and most thor. ough investigation.
 "If the resolution can be made broader and more rigid, and more thorough investigation secured, it should be done and will be welcomed by the secretary He wants no white wash; he wants no partial investlga. ton, he wants 1t rigid, thorough, com plete and conducted without fear o, favor"
 The resolution for an investigation of the Ballinger-Pinc controversy in the house today was referred to the committee on rules. In the sen ate reference was postponed until to. morrow.