New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1911-05-13
POLITICAL CORRUPTION
HERE AND ELSEWHERE.

the united States, nor even II
Louisiana, as some of the knock
ers" apparently would have it be
lieved. There seems, from all ac
counts, to be some in other states
and sections Of the Union.
For some weeks past there has
been quite a commotion in the
great Northern States of Illinois
caused by loudly proclaimed
charges that United States sen.
atOr to represent that third most
populous and powerful common
wealth of the Union in the upper
chamber of the national congress
had been elected by the State s
Legislature through the most
shameful and flagrant bribery of
the members of that body.
Then there is Pennsylvania, Sec
cond to New York in population
and in representative power in
the government in the United
States, said to be so crowded with
political corruption, particularly
in connection with the building
and equipment Of it's magnificent
new Capitol, that its name is a
Upward and a Kissing"
Now comes the announcement
that the Legislature of Ohio, the
fourth state in population and i'm
portance, is SO honeycombed with
political corruption that not less
than forty Of it's members are not
only accused of taking money in
order to secure their votes for or
or against particular measures,
but it is declared that the proof
of their guilt is fully established,
and officials and detectives who
have set out to investigate the sit
uation proclaim in the most posi-
tive terms that it is doubtful if a
single bill has been got through
the present Legislature unless is
passage was paid for in actual
cash.
It should not be forgotten that
within a very few weeks or
months past most than thousand
citizens of Adams County, in
Ohio, were tried, convicted and
heavily fined for selling their
votes in the general state election
and the fact was brought out that
those citizens were in the habit o1
selling their votes, and when there
were no exciting issues at stak'
the ordinary price of votes was
81, but that in the last genera
election. in which many active in
terests were involved, the prize
had gone up to S. and even SIT
for a single vote.
These lines have not been writ
ten to excuse any political wrong
doing in Louisiana. Our pOliti
cal situation has not ben free from
attempts to falsify public election
and maneuver public affairs il
private interests. but We have nev
er reached the heights or depth
of inquiry which have allowe
individuals to bribe their wa,
through the State Legislature t
seats in the Senate of the Unite
States. nor have here been in thl
state any of the flagrantly erin
inal transactions in the state
public affairs which are mention
ed above concerning other stae
We must keep our own polit
cal skirts clean and punish OF
political criminals and those
every other sort with the utmo'
impartiality, but let us not, in o
der to accomplish our own selfis
designs to secure for somebod
else or for any number Of othe
public places and benefits. atteml
to blacken the character of pu
! lie officials who have done got
! service and whose character h
never been impeached. Naturs
!, Ilv. those who are not feeding
} the public table are eagerly an
ious to do so, and they are e
} titled by every honest means al
lawful method to get there, but
. everything they should be ju
: and remember, if they should g
!. the places they covet. that tn
will not be safe from insinuatiol
, accusations and slanderous m
; representation. For be they :
pure as ice, as chaste as sno
, they shall not escape calumny
l-PicayunA -- =