The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-27

New York, March 26.-lSpecial-) lis
American business and public life found
ed on "graft?" In view of the disclosures
in Pittsburg which led one of the graft
ers TO make the plea that graft is Amer
lean business the more amazing devel-
opment comes out that a yellow pup
fund of $4,000 was expended by insur-
anee companies TO influence legislation
within the past few days.
The Publishers Press requested ths
opinions OF number of men whose names
are known the country over. and whose
opinions carry weight as to whether the
epidemic OF graft exposures indicate that
| the business and public life of the United
| States is rotten; whether they evidence
that graft is becoming a habit which
threatens to undermine the integrity OF
the country and whether. as matter OF
fact, there is really more grating now
than there has been in the past.
This is what some of these men think
of It,:
Cardinal Gibbons
Cardinal Gibbons the highest Roman
Catholic prelate in the United States: 1T
Is unfortunate that such exposures can
be made, although it is fortunate that the
ished. Misdeeds in high places weaken
the fabric of our civic life, but Fortunate
ly exposures come but seldom. At the
present time there seems to be an epi-
denic of exposure, but believe that the
laws cleansing Is always followed by a
higher resolve. do not wish to make
comments upon the scandals which arc
now before the public, but cannot think
that they indicate a worse condition OF
affairs than existed decades ago.
1T Is far better to have such exposures
made when lawlessness Is going forward
than to leave the cancerous sore to ex-
pand without being checked by publicity.
1t Is unfortunate that the cause for scam
dals exist, but it is better to have them
exposed than to allow them to tester in
secret There will come time when
mems hearts are filed with the higher and
purer life when such things will be NSx
memories of the past"
Governor Hughes
Governor Hughes of New York, who
has been a central figure for a number Of
yearu on graft investigations, is averse
to discussion upon the exposures now
under way.
1T is my policy to abstain from talk
ing upon this subject" said the governor.
Nothing could say at this time would
assist in the work which Is going on.
You ask II the present exposures hero
and elsewhere indicate base foundation
of our POLITICAL economic and civic
structure. That also must pass without
comment. The work which is being done
by reformers speaks for itself. The ef-
forts of those who are exposing wrongs
and trying to have the guilty punished
do not require criticism. The activity OF
public officials who are seeking out pub
lie men accused of viciousness is a mon-
ument to their integrity"
John d. Rockefeller
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., who will hold
the reins In the distribution of a great
portion of his fathers wealth through
the Rockefeller foundation, said:
1.-THE rule of business life today cannot
be judged by sporadic exposures whicn
have been made and which may be under
way now. I do not believe that the
| standard of polite life could be so judged
| either Everywhere there are men will
| Ing to stoop to questionable ends to gain
their means, but these men are outnum-
bered by those of unimpeachable in
tegrity.
Exposure Is the only cure for such
Ills The facts brought out may be ex-
aggerated by the press and they may not.
But ! cannot see any cause for wide-
spread fear"
bishop Greer
Bishop David N. Greer. successor to
Bishop Heary c.. Potter of New York,
says:
1.-THE startling exposures of graft do
not indicate to me that tho public and
commercial life of America has become
saturated by a spirit of dishonesty On
the contrary, existing conditions suggest
to my mind that the evil Is so incon-
sistent with true American ideas that 1t
has made itself felt as a disease that
must be eliminated at no matter what
cost. The spirit of graft has over
-f--<.x
lie morality and the public conscience
may slumber at times bur Its awaken
ing is always terrible and the Offenders
never fail to come to grief, as we havo
seen in the case of political rings and
Doodle aldermen more than once or twice
in our history"
Nathan Straus
Nathan straus. merchant. capitalist and
philanthropist. says;H @
Ill - - -