The Washington times., 1911-10-08
THE CASE OF Mr.. RODNEY
: SACKET.

For many years-so many that
memory runneth not with defniteness
to the contrary-the name of Rodney
Sacket has appeared in the roster OF
clerical employees of the United States
Senate, and the rotund figure of Mr..
Sacket has graced the corridors of the
Senate wing.
Mr.. Sacket came from Wisconsin
originally, and was attached to the
personal retinue of one of the earlier
Senators, from whom he was inherited
by Isaac Stephenson when that we'll
heeled elder in statecraft made his
advent into the Senate. Since that
time Mr.. Sacket has been devoutly
loyal to the political fortunes of his
new patron.
1t appears that Sacket won the COM
plete confidence of Senator Stephenson,
as testimony whereof it is developed
in the investigation now afoot at Mil
waukee, that Sacket handled $9Sy0S3 of
the 100000 that Stephenson spent to
get himself elected Senator in l90S-09.
Sacket tells the investigating commit
tee that is trying to learn whether a
seat can be honestly bought" at such
a high price, that he blew $46,052 for
general expenses of organizing the
State. That seems to the committee
rather vague, and it is insisting that
Mr.. Sacket come through with more
detailed explanation.
We feel a sympathy with the en-
barrassing curiosity displayed by the
committee Mr.. Sacket isn't able TO
do much for the committee, because
records of those campaign expenditures
have in the main conveniently disap-
peared. The general result, however, IS
known. Stephenson swears that some
how he separated himself from $lO7,-
600, and that almost ali of it passed
through the hands of Sacket. Votes
for Stephenson in the primary cost an
average of just about 81 apiece. They
were doubtless worth that much to the |
Senator; he seemed satisfied with his |
and from one point of view
it does seem indecent of the Senate to
make a muss if a rich man bulls the
quotations in the toga market merely /
because he fancies that style of gar
ment and can afford to spend the coin.
Whether Senator Stephenson will be
pried out of his Senatorial seat can
only be conjectured at this time. But
it is very plain that Mr.. Sacket ought
to be loosed from his job. He draws
a regular annual salary from the Sen
ate, for working about five months
year, on the average. Each year Con-
gress hands over an extra months
wages, making thirteen months pay
for five months work. Naturally, in
view of all this generosity the satellites
of Senatorial patrona feel an acute
loyalty to their chiefs. As result of
this system, we see Mr.. Sacket chas-
ing up and down the Wisconsin land
scape, scattering hunks of money of
all hands, doing the dirty work" for
the man who keeps him in his soft sit
Iation at Washington. We find him
lmiably forgetful as to the details of
'Sundry Bills, $S,662." He just nat
lrally can't recall who got $ll,6O0
'pent in Milwaukee county.
The Senate has no business main
aiming a big force of political employees
Who do little real work even when
hey are nominally at it, and then
pend the rest of the year in such oc-
upations as the political necessities of
heir masters may require. The Senate I
) disgraced by this Sacket perform
nee, and it has been disgraced in the .
ast by long list of others of the
anne sort. The House of Representa- ,
ives under the Cannon regime was
eeking scandal of political nesting;
roken down politicians and deft-
ngered experts in the strictly sinis-
erly practical" arts of political oper-
tion, were provided with good jobs
nd kept at work in political employ Z
lents when their services were needed =
n campaigns.
Why not fire Mr.. Sacket, anyhow, as ;
notice that the new Senate doesn't
are for that sort of thing so much =.
5 the old Senate did?
Then maybe Sacket's memory would =
ct better about campaign details.
THE BILLBOARD r